THE  LAST  OF  THE 
MOHICANS  / 

OR 
A   NARRATIVE   OF   1757 

BY 

JAMES   FENIMORE   COOPER 


WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS    BY 

E.  BOYD  SMITH 


NEW  YORK 
HENRY    HOLT   AND    COMPANY 


f. 


COPYRIGHT,  1910, 

BY 
HENRY  HOLT  AND  COMPANY 


COLORED    ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 


"  The  Mohicans  listened  gravely,   and  with  countenances 

that  reflected  the  sentiments  of  the  speaker  "   .  Frontispiece 

"'What  is  it?'  murmured  Alice,  after  a  few  moments  of 

terrible  suspense  ".......       75 

"'Then  die!  '  shouted  Magua,  hurling  his  tomahawk  with 

violence  at  the  unresisting  speaker  "  .          .          .          .     154 

"The  scout  resumed  his  post"  in  the  advance"         .          .     191 

" '  Well,   boy,'   demanded   the   attentive   scout,   '  what  does 

it  say?     Can  you  make  anything  of  the  tell-tale?'"     272 

"The" scout  .  .  .  deliberately   laid   aside   his   paddle,    and 

raised  the  fatal  rifle " 302 

"  His  keen  eye  rested  on  the  shaggy  monster  "         .          .     403 

" '  With  what    tongue    does    the    prisoner    speak    to    the 

Manitou  ?  '  " 458 


INTRODUCTION 

IT  is  believed  that  the  scene  of  this  tale,  and  most  of 
the  information  necessary  to  understand  its  allusions, 
are  rendered  sufficiently  obvious  to  the  reader  in  the  text 
itself,  or  in  the  accompanying  notes.  Still  there  is  so 
much  obscurity  in  the  Indian  traditions,  and  so  much 
confusion  in  the  Indian  names,  as  to  render  some  ex 
planation  useful. 

Few  men  exhibit  greater  diversity,  or,  if  we  may  so 
express  it,  greater  antithesis  of  character,  than  the  na 
tive  warrior  of  North  America.  In  war,  he  is  daring, 
boastful,  cunning,  ruthless,  self-denying,  and  self-de 
voted;  in  peace,  just,  generous,  hospitable,  revengeful, 
superstitious,  modest,  and  commonly  chaste.  These  are 
qualities,  it  is  true,  which  do  not  distinguish  all  alike ; 
but  they  are  so  far  the  predominating  traits  of  these 
remarkable  people  as  to  be  characteristic. 

It  is  generally  believed  the  Aborigines  of  the  American 
continent  have  an  Asiatic  origin.  There  are  many  phys 
ical  as  well  as  moral  facts  which  corroborate  this  opinion, 
and  some  few  would  seem  to  weigh  against  it. 

The  color  of  the  Indian,  the  writer  believes,  is  peculiar 
to  himself ;  and  while  his  cheek-bones  have  a  very  striking 
indication  of  a  Tartar  origin,  his  eyes  have  not.  Climate 
may  have  had  great  influence  on  the  former,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  see  how  it  can  have  produced  the  substantial 
difference  which  exists  in  the  latter.  The  imagery  of 
the  Indian,  both  in  his  poetry  and  his  oratory,  is  Oriental, 


vi  Introduction 

— chastened,  and  perhaps  improved,  by  the  limited  range 
of  his  practical  knowledge.  He  draws  his  metaphors 
from  the  clouds,  the  seasons,  the  birds,  the  beasts,  and 
the  vegetable  world.  In  this,  perhaps,  he  does  no  more 
than  any  other  energetic  and  imaginative  race  would  do, 
being  compelled  to  set  bounds  to  fancy  by  experience; 
but  the  North  American  Indian  clothes  his  ideas  in  dress 
which  is  different  from  that  of  the  African,  and  is 
Oriental  in  itself.  His.  language  has  the  richness  and 
sententious  fullness  of  the  Chinese.  He  will  express  a 
phrase  in  a  word,  and  he  will  qualify  the  meaning  of 
an  entire  sentence  by  a  syllable;  he  will  even  convey 
different  significations  by  the  simplest  inflections  of  the 
voice. 

Philologists  have  said  that  there  are  but  two  or  three 
languages,  properly  speaking,  among  all  the  numerous 
tribes  which  formerly  occupied  the  country  that  now 
composes  the  United  States.  They  ascribe  the  known 
difficulty  one  people  have  in  understanding  another  to 
corruptions  and  dialects.  The  writer  remembers  to  have 
been  present  at  an  interview  between  two  chiefs  of  the 
great  prairies  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  when  an 
interpreter  was  in  attendance  who  spoke  both  their  lan 
guages.  The  warriors  appeared  to  be  on  the  most  friendly 
terms,  and  seemingly  conversed  much  together;  yet, 
according  to  the  account  of  the  interpreter,  each  was 
absolutely  ignorant  of  what  the  other  said.  They  were 
of  hostile  tribes,  brought  together  by  the  influence  of  the 
American  government;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
a  common  policy  led  them  both  to  adopt  the  same  subject. 
They  mutually  exhorted  each  other  to  be  of  use  in  the 
event  of  the  chances  of  war  throwing  either  of  the  parties 
into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Whatever  may  be  the 


Introduction  vii 

truth,  as  respects  the  root  and  the  genius  of  the  Indian 
tongues,  it  is  quite  certain  they  are  now  so  distinct  in 
their  words  as  to  possess  most  of  the  disadvantages  of 
strange  languages ;  hence  much  of  the  embarrassment  that 
has  arisen  in  learning  their  histories,  and  most  of  the 
uncertainty  which  exists  in  their  traditions. 

Like  nations  of  higher  pretensions,  the  American  In 
dian  gives  a  very  different  account  of  his  own  tribe  or 
race  from  that  which  is  given  by  other  people.  He  is 
much  addicted  to  overestimating  his  own  perfections,  and 
to  undervaluing  those  of  his  rival  or  his  enemy;  a  trait 
which  may  possibly  be  thought  corroborative  of  the 
Mosaic  account  of  the  creation. 

The  Whites  have  assisted  greatly  in  rendering  the  tradi 
tions  of  the  Aborigines  more  obscure  by  their  own  man 
ner  of  corrupting  names.  Thus,  the  term  used  in  the 
title  of  this  book  has  undergone  the  changes  of  Mahicanni, 
Mohicans,  and  Mohegans ;  the  latter  being  the  word 
commonly  used  by  the  Whites.  When  it  is  remembered 
that  the  Dutch  (who  first  settled  New  York),  the  Eng 
lish,  and  the  French,  all  gave  appellations  to  the  tribes 
that  dwelt  within  the  country  which  is  the  scene  of 
this  story,  and  that  the  Indians,  not  only  gave  different 
names  to  their  enemies,  but  frequently  to  themselves, 
the  cause  of  the  confusion  will  be  understood. 

In  these  pages,  Lenni-Lenape,  Lenope,  Delawares,  Wa- 
panachki,  and  Mohicans,  all  mean  the  same  people,  or 
tribes  of  the  same  stock.  The  Mengwe,  the  Maquas,  the 
Mingos,  and  the  Iroquois,  though  not  all  strictly  the  same, 
are  identified  frequently  by  the  speakers,  being  politically 
confederated  and  opposed  to  those  just  named.  Mingo 
was  a  term  of  peculiar  reproach,  as  was  Mengwe  and 
Maqua  in  a  less  degree. 


viii  Introduction 

The  Mohicans  were  the  possessors  of  the  country  first 
occupied  by  the  Europeans  in  this  portion  of  the  conti 
nent.  They  were,  consequently,  the  first  dispossessed; 
and  the  seemingly  inevitable  fate  of  all  these  people,  who 
disappear  before  the  advances,  or  it  might  be  termed  the 
inroads  of  civilization,  as  the  verdure  of  their  native 
forests  falls  before  the  nipping  frost,  is  represented  as 
having  already  befallen  them.  There  is  sufficient  his 
torical  truth  in  the  picture  to  justify  the  use  that  has 
been  made  of  it. 

In  point  of  fact,  the  country  which  is  the  scene  of  the 
following  tale  has  undergone  as  little  change,  since  the 
historical  events  alluded  to  had  place,  as  almost  any  other 
district  of  equal  extent  within  the  whole  limits  of  the 
United  States.  There  are  fashionable  and  well-attended 
watering-places  at  and  near  the  spring  where  Hawkeye 
halted  to  drink,  and  roads  traverse  the  forests  where  he 
and  his  friends  were  compelled  to  journey  without  even 
a  path.  Glenn's  has  a  large  village;  and  while  William 
Henry,  and  even  a  fortress  of  later  date,  are  only  to  be 
traced  as  ruins,  there  is  another  village  on  the  shores  of 
the  Horican.  But,  beyond  this,  the  enterprise  and  energy 
of  the  people  who  have  done  so  much  in  other  places 
have  done  little  here.  The  whole  of  that  wilderness,  in 
which  the  latter  incidents  of  the  legend  occurred,  is 
nearly  a  wilderness  still,  though  the  redman  has  entirely 
deserted  this  part  of  the  State.  Of  all  the  tribes  named 
in  these  pages,  there  exist  only  a  few  half -civilized  be 
ings  of  the  Oneidas,  on  the  reservations  of  their  people 
in  New  York.  The  rest  have  disappeared,  either  from 
the  regions  in  which  their  fathers  dwelt,  or  altogether 
from  the  earth. 

There  is  one  point  on  which  we  would  wish  to  say  a 


Introduction  ix 

word  before  closing  this  preface.  Hawkeye  calls  the 
Lac  du  Saint  Sacrement,  the  "  Horican."  As  we  be 
lieve  this  to  be  an  appropriation  of  the  name  that  has 
its  origin  with  ourselves,  the  time  has  arrived,  perhaps, 
when  the  fact  should  be  frankly  admitted.  While  writing 
this  book,  fully  a  quarter  of  a  century  since,  it  occurred 
to  us  that  the  French  name  of  this  lake  was  too  com 
plicated,  the  American  too  commonplace,  and  the  Indian 
too  unpronounceable,  for  either  to  be  used  familiarly  in 
a  work  of  fiction.  Looking  over  an  ancient  map,  it  was 
ascertained  that  a  tribe  of  Indians,  called  "  Les  Hori- 
cans  "  by  the  French,  existed  in  the  neighborhood  of  this 
beautiful  sheet  of  water.  As  every  word  uttered  by 
Natty  Bumppo  was  not  to  be  received  as  rigid  truth, 
we  took  the  liberty  of  putting  the  "  Horican  "  into  his 
mouth,  as  the  substitute  for  "  Lake  George."  The  name 
has  appeared  to  find  favor,  and  all  things  considered,  it 
may  possibly  be  quite  as  well  to  let  it  stand,  instead  of 
going  back  to  the  house  of  Hanover  for  the  appellation 
of  our  finest  sheet  of  water.  We  relieve  our  conscience 
by  the  confession,  at  all  events,  leaving  it  to  exercise 
its  authority  as  it  may  see  fit. 


CHAPTER 

I.     &    &    & 


"  Mine  ear  is  open,  and  my  heart  prepared : 
The  worst  is  worldly  loss  thou  canst  unfold: 
Say,  is  my  kingdom  lost?" 

SHAKESPEARE. 

IT  was  a  feature  peculiar  to  the  colonial  wars  of  North 
America,  that  the  toils  and  dangers  of  the  wilder 
ness  were  to  be  encountered  before  the  adverse  hosts 
could  meet.  A  wide  and  apparently  an  impervious 
boundary  of  forests  severed  the  possessions  of  the  hostile 
provinces  of  France  and  England.  The  hardy  colonist, 
and  the  trained  European  who  fought  at  his  side,  fre 
quently  expended  months  in  struggling  against  the  rapids 
of  the  streams,  or  in  effecting  the  rugged  passes  of  the 
mountains,  in  quest  of  an  opportunity  to  exhibit  their 
courage  in  a  more  martial  conflict.  But,  emulating  the 
patience  and  self-denial  of  the  practised  native  warriors, 
they  learned  to  overcome  every  difficulty;  and  it  would 
seem  that,  in  time,  there  was  no  recess  of  the  woods 
so  dark,  nor  any  secret  place  so  lovely,  that  it  might 
claim  exemption  from  the  inroads  of  those  who  had 
pledged  their  blood  to  satiate  their  vengeance,  or  to 


2       ^  ^  - .  -  "J^o  J  JjiSLSt  of  the  Mohicans 


uphold  the  cold  and  selfish  policy  of  the  distant  monarchs 
of  Europe. 

Perhaps  no  district  throughout  the  wide  extent  of  the 
intermediate  frontiers  can  furnish  a  livelier  picture  of 
the  cruelty  and  fierceness  of  the  savage  warfare  of  those 
periods  than  the  country  which  lies  between  the  head 
waters  of  the  Hudson  and  the  adjacent  lakes. 

The  facilities  which  nature  had  there  offered  to  the 
march  of  the  combatants  were  too  obvious  to  be  neglected. 
The  lengthened  sheet  of  the  Champlain  stretched  from 
the  frontiers  of  Canada,  deep  within  the  borders  of  the 
neighboring  province  of  New  York,  forming  a  natural 
passage  across  half  the  distance  that  the  French  were 
compelled  to  master  in  order  to  strike  their  enemies. 
Near  its  southern  termination,  it  received  the  contribu 
tions  of  another  lake,  whose  waters  were  so  limpid  as  to 
have  been  exclusively  selected  by  the  Jesuit  missionaries 
to  perform  the  typical  purification  of  baptism,  and  to 
obtain  for  it  the  title  of  lake  "  du  Saint  Sacrement." 
The  less  zealous  English  thought  they  conferred  a  suffi 
cient  honor  on  its  unsullied  fountains,  when  they  be 
stowed  the  name  of  their  reigning  prince,  the  second  of 
the  house  of  Hanover.  The  two  united  to  rob  the  un 
tutored  possessors  of  its  wooded  scenery  of  their  native 
right  to  perpetuate  its  original  appellation  of  "  Hori- 
can."  * 

1  As  each  nation  of  the  Indians  had  either  its  language  or  its 
dialect,  they  usually  gave  different  names  to  the  same  places, 
though  nearly  all  of  their  appellations  were  descriptive  of  the 
object.  Thus,  a  literal  translation  of  the  name  of  this  beautiful 
sheet  of  water,  used  by  the  tribe  that  dwelt  on  its  banks,  would 
be  "The  Tail  of  the  Lake."  Lake  George,  as  it  is  vulgarly, 
and  now  indeed  legally  called,  forms  a  sort  of  tail  to  Lake 
Champlain,  when  viewed  on  the  map.  Hence  the  name. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  3 

Winding  its  way  among  countless  islands,  and  im 
bedded  in  mountains,  the  "  holy  lake  "  extended  a  dozen 
leagues  still  farther  to  the  south.  With  the  high  plain 
that  there  interposed  itself  to  the  further  passage  of  the 
water,  commenced  a  portage  of  as  many  miles,  whjch 
conducted  the  adventurer  to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson, 
at  a  point  where,  with  the  usual  obstructions  of  the 
rapids,  or  rifts,  as  they  were  then  termed  in  the  language 
of  the  country,  the  river  became  navigable  to  the 
tide. 

While,  in  the  pursuit  of  their  daring  plans  of,  annoy 
ance,  the  restless  enterprise  of  the  French  even  attempted 
the  distant  and  difficult  gorges-  of  the  Alleghany,  it 
may  easily  be  imagined  that  their  proverbial  acuteness 
would  not  overlook  the  natural  advantages  of  the  district 
we  have_  just  described.  It  became,  emphatically,  the 
bloody  arena,  in  which  most  of  the  battles  for  the 
mastery  of  the  colonies  were  contested.  Forts  were 
erected  at  the  different  points  that  commanded  the  facil 
ities  of  the  route,  and  were  taken  and  retaken,  rased 
and  rebuilt,  as  victory  alighted  on  the  hostile  banners. 
While  the  husbandman  shrank  back  from  the  dangerous 
passes,  within  the  safer  boundaries  of  the  more  ancient 
settlements,  armies  larger  than  those  that  had  often  dis 
posed  of  the  scepters  of  the  mother  countries,  were  seen 
to  bury  themselves  in  these  forests,  whence  they  rarely 
returned  but  in  skeleton  bands,  that  were  haggard  with 
care,  or  dejected  by  defeat.  Though  the  arts  of  peace 
were  unknown  to  this  fatal  region,  its  forests  were  alive 
with  men;  its  shades  and  glens  rang  with  the  sounds 
of  martial  music,  and  the  echoes  of  its  mountains  threw 
back  the  laugh,  or  repeated  the  wanton  cry,  of  many  a 
gallant  and  reckless  youth,  as  he  hurried  by  them,  in  the 


4  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

noontide  of  his  spirits,  to  slumber  in  a  long  night  of 
forgetfulness. 

It  was  in  this  scene  of  strife  and  bloodshed  that  the 
incidents  we  shall  attempt  to  relate  occurred,  during  the 
third  year  of  the  war  which  England  and  France  last 
waged  for  the  possession  of  a  country  that  neither  was 
destined  to  retain. 

The  imbecility  of  her  military  leaders  abroad,  and  the 
fatal  want  of  energy  in  her  councils  at  home,  had  low 
ered  the  character  of  Great  Britain  from  the  proud  ele 
vation  on  which  it  had  been  placed,  by  the  talents  and 
enterprise  of  her  former  warriors  and  statesmen.  No 
longer  dreaded  by  her  enemies,  her  servants  were  fast 
losing  the  confidence  of  self-respect.  In  this  mortifying 
abasement,  the  colonists,  though  innocent  of  her  im 
becility,  and  too  humble  to  be  the  agents  of  her  blunders, 
were  but  the  natural  participators. 

They  had  recently  seen  a  chosen  army  from  that 
country,  which,  reverencing  as  a  mother,  they  had  blindly 
believed  invincible — an  army  led  by  a  chief  who  had 
been  selected  from  a  crowd  of  trained  warriors,  for 
his  rare  military  endowments,  disgracefully  routed  by  a 
handful  of  French  and  Indians,  and  only  saved  from 
annihilation  by  the  coolness  and  spirit  of  a  Virginian 
boy,  whose  riper  fame  has  since  diffused  itself,  with  the 
-steady  influence  of  moral  truth,  to  the  uttermost  confines 
of  Christendom.1  A  wide  frontier  had  been  laid  naked 

1  Washington :  who,  after  uselessly  admonishing  the  European 
general  of  the  danger  into  which  he  was  heedlessly  running, 
saved  the  remnants  of  the  British  army,  on  this  occasion,  by 
his  decision  and  courage.  The  reputation  earned  by  Wash 
ington  in  this  battle  was  the  principal  cause  of  his  being  selected 
to  command  the  American  armies  at  a  later  day.  It  is  a  cir- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  5 

by  this  unexpected  disaster,  and  more  substantial  evils 
were  preceded  by  a  thousand  fanciful  and  imaginary 
dangers.  The  alarmed  colonists  believed  that  the  yells 
of  the  savages  mingled  with  every  fitful  gust  of  wind 
that  issued  from  the  interminable  forests  of  the  west. 
The  terrific  character  of  their  merciless  enemies  in 
creased  immeasurably  the  natural  horrors  of  warfare. 
Numberless  recent  massacres  were  still  vivid  in  their 
recollections;  nor  was  there  any  ear  in  the  provinces  so 
deaf  as  not  to  have  drunk  in  with  avidity  the  narrative 
of  some  fearful  tale  of  midnight  murder,  in  which  the 
natives  of  the  forests  were  the  principal  and  barbarous 
actors.  As  the  credulous  and  excited  traveler  related 
the  hazardous  chances  of  the  wilderness,  the  blood  of 
the  timid  curdled  with  terror,  and  mothers  cast  anxious 
glances  even  at  those  children  which  slumbered  within 
the  security  of  the  largest  towns.  In  short,  the  mag 
nifying  influence  of  fear  began  to  set  at  naught  the 
calculations  of  reason,  and  to  render  those  who  should 
have  remembered  their  manhood,  the  slaves  of  the  basest 
of  passions.  Even  the  most  confident  and  the  stoutest 
hearts  began  to  think  the  issue  of  the  contest  was 
becoming  doubtful;  and  that  abject  class  was  hourly  in 
creasing  in  numbers,  who  thought  they  foresaw  all  the 
possessions  of  the  English  crown  in  America  subdued 
by  their  Christian  foes,  or  laid  waste  by  the  inroads  of 
their  relentless  allies. 

When,  therefore,  intelligence  was  received  at  the  fort, 

cumstance  worthy  of  observation,  that,  while  all  America  rang 
with  his  well-merited  reputation,  his  name  does  not  occur  in 
any  European  account  of  the  battle;  at  least,  the  author  has 
searched  for  it  without  success.  In  this  manner  does  the  mother 
country  absorb  even  the  fame,  under  that  system  of  rule. 


6  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

which  covered  the  southern  termination  of  the  portage 
between  the  Hudson  and  the  lakes,  that  Montcalm  had 
been  seen  moving  up  the  Champlain,  with  an  army 
"  numerous  as  the  leaves  on  the  trees,"  its  truth  was 
admitted  with  more  of  the  craven  reluctance  of  fear  than 
with  the  stern  joy  that  a  warrior  should  feel,  in  finding 
an  enemy  within  reach  of  his  blow.  The  news  had  been 
brought,  towards  the  decline  of  a  day  in  midsummer, 
by  an  Indian  runner,  who  also  bore  an  urgent  request 
from  Munro,  the  commander  of  a  work  on  the  shore  of 
the  "  holy  lake,"  for  a  speedy  and  powerful  reinforce 
ment.  It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the  distance 
between  these  two  posts  was  less  than  five  leagues.  The 
rude  path,  which  originally  formed  their  line  of  com 
munication,  had  been  widened  for  the  passage  of  wagons ; 
so  that  the  distance  which  had  been  traveled  by  the  son 
of  the  forest  in  two  hours,  might  easily  be  effected  by 
a  detachment  of  troops,  with  their  necessary  baggage, 
between  the  rising  and  setting  of  a  summer  sun.  The 
loyal  servants  of  the  British  crown  had  given  to  one 
of  these  forest  fastnesses  the  name  of  William  Henry, 
and  to  the  other  that  of  Fort  Edward ;  calling  each  after 
a  favorite  prince  of  the  reigning  family.  The  veteran 
Scotchman  just  named  held  the  first,  with  a  regiment 
of  regulars  and  a  few  provincials;  a  force  really  by  far 
too  small  to  make  head  against  the  formidable  power 
that  Montcalm  was  leading  to  the  foot  of  his  earthen 
mounds.  At  the  latter,  however,  lay  General  Webb,  who 
commanded  the  armies  of  the  king  in  the  northern 
provinces,  with  a  body  of  more  than  five  thousand  men. 
By  uniting  the  several  detachments  of  his  command,  this 
officer  might  have  arrayed  nearly  double  that  number  of 
^combatants  against  the  enterprising  Frenchman,  who  had 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  7 

ventured  so  far  from  his  reinforcements,  with  an  army 
but  little  superior  in  numbers. 

But  under  the  influence  of  their  degraded  fortunes, 
both  officers  and  men  appeared  better  disposed  to  await 
the  approach  of  their  formidable  antagonists,  within  their 
works,  than  to  resist  the  progress  of  their  march,  by 
emulating  the  successful  example  of  the  French  at  Fort 
du  Quesne,  and  striking  a  blow  on  their  advance. 

After  the  first  surprise  of  the  intelligence  had  a  little 
abated,  a  rumor  was  spread  through  the  intrenched  camp, 
which  stretched  along  the  margin  of  the  Hudson,  forming 
a  chain  of  outworks  to  the  body  of  the  fort  itself,  that 
a  chosen  detachment  of  fifteen  hundred  men  was  to 
depart,  with  the  dawn,  for  William  Henry,  the  post  at 
the  northern  extremity  of  the  portage.  That  which  at 
first  was  only  rumor,  soon  became  certainty,  as  orders 
passed  from  the  quarters  of  the  commander-in-chief  to 
the  several  corps  he  had  selected  for  this  service,  to 
prepare  for  their  speedy  departure.  All  doubt  as  to 
the  intention  of  Webb  now  vanished,  and  an  hour  or 
two  of  hurried  footsteps  and  anxious  faces^  succeeded. 
The  novice  in  the  military  art  flew  from  point  tovpoint, 
retarding  his  own  preparations  by  the  excess  of  his  vio 
lent  and  somewhat  distempered  zeal ;  while  the  more 
practised  veteran  made  his  arrangements  with  a  delibera 
tion  that  scorned  every  appearance  of  haste;  though rhis 
sober  lineaments  and  anxious  eye  sufficiently  betrayed 
that  he  had  no  very  strong  professional  relish  for  ihe 
as  yet  untried  and  dreaded  warfare  of  the  wilderness. 
At  length  the  sun  set  in  a  flood  of  glory,  behind  the 
distant  western  hills,  and  as  darkness  drew  its  veil 
around  the  secluded  spot  the  sounds  of  preparation 
diminished;  the  last  light  finally  disappeared  from  the 


8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

log  cabin  of  some  officer;  the  trees  cast  their  deeper 
shadows  over  the  mounds  and  the  rippling  stream,  and 
a  silence  soon  pervaded  the  camp,  as  deep  as  that  which 
reigned  in  the  vast  forest  by  which  it  was  environed. 

According  to  the  orders  of  the  preceding  night,  the 
heavy  sleep  of  the  army  was  broken  by  the  rolling  of 
the  warning  drums,  whose  rattling  echoes  were  heard 
issuing,  on  the  damp  morning  air,  out  of  every  vista 
of  the  woods,  just  as  day  began  to  draw  the  shaggy 
outlines  of  some  tall  pines  of  the  vicinity,  on  the  opening 
brightness  of  a  soft  and  cloudless  eastern  sky.  In  an 
instant  the  whole  camp  was  in  motion;  the  meanest  sol 
dier  arousing  from  his  lair  to  witness  the  departure 
of  his  comrades,  and  to  share  in  the  excitement  and  in 
cidents  of  the  hour.  The  simple  array  of  the  chosen 
band  was  soon  completed.  While  the  regular  and  trained 
hirelings  of  the  king  marched  with  haughtiness  to  the 
right  of  the  line,  the  less  pretending  colonists  took 
their  humbler  position  on  its  left,  with  a  docility  that 
long  practice  had  rendered  easy.  The  scouts  departed; 
strong  guards  preceded  and  followed  the  lumbering 
vehicles  that  bore  the  baggage;  and  before  the  gray 
light  of  the  morning  was  mellowed  by  the  rays  of  the 
sun,  the  main  body  of  the  combatants  wheeled  into 
column,  and  left  the  encampment  with  a  show  of  high 
military  bearing,  that  served  to  drown  the  slumbering 
apprehensions  of  many  a  novice,  who  was  now  about 
to  make  his  first  essay  in  arms.  While  in  view  of 
their  admiring  comrades,  the  same  proud  front  and 
ordered  array  was  observed,  until  the  notes  of  their 
fifes  growing  fainter  in  distance,  the  forest  at  length 
appeared  to  swallow  up  the  living  mass  which  had 
slowly  entered  its  bosom. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  9 

The  deepest  sounds  of  the  retiring  and  invisible  col 
umn  had  ceased  to  be  borne  on  the  breeze  to  the 
listeners,  and  the  latest  straggler  had  already  disappeared 
in  pursuit;  but  there  still  remained  the  signs  of  another 
departure,  before  a  log  cabin  of  unusual  size  and  accom 
modations,  in  front  of  which  those  sentinels  paced  their 
rounds,  who  were  known  to  guard  the  person  of  the 
English  general.  At  this  spot  were  gathered  some  half 
dozen  horses,  caparisoned  in  a  manner  which  showed 
that  two,  at  least,  were  destined  to  bear  the  persons 
of  females,  of  a  rank  that  it  was  not  usual  to  meet 
so  far  in  the  wilds  of  the  country.  A  third  wore  the 
trappings  and  arms  of  an  officer  of  the  staff;  while  the 
rest,  from  the  plainness  of  the  housings,  and  the  traveling 
mails  with  which  they  were  encumbered,  were  evidently 
fitted  for  the  reception  of  as  many  menials,  who  were, 
seemingly,  already  awaiting  the  pleasure  of  those  they 
served.  At  a  respectful  distance  from  this  unusual  show 
were  gathered  divers  groups  of  curious  idlers;  some 
admiring  the  blood  and  bone  of  the  high-mettled  military 
charger,  and  others  gazing  at  the  preparations,  with  dull 
wonder  of  vulgar  curiosity.  There  was  one  man,  how 
ever,  who,  by  his  countenance  and  actions,  formed  a 
marked  exception  to  those  who  composed  the  latter  class 
of  spectators,  being  neither  idle,  nor  seemingly  very 
ignorant. 

The  person  of  this  individual  was  to  the  last  degree 
ungainly,  without  being  in  any  particular  manner  de 
formed.  He  had  all  the  bones  and  joints  of  other  men, 
without  any  of  their  proportions.  Erect,  his  stature  sur 
passed  that  of  his  fellows;  seated,  he  appeared  reduced 
within  the  ordinary  limits  of  the  race.  The  same  con 
trariety  in  his  members  seemed  to  exist  throughout  the 


io  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 


whole  man.  His  head  was  large;  his  shoulders  narrow 
his  arms  long  and  dangling;  while  his  hands  were  small, 
if  not  delicate.  His  legs  and  thighs  were  thin,  nearly 
to  emaciation,  but  of  extraordinary  length ;  and  his  knees 
would  have  been  considered  tremendous,  had  they  not 
been  outdone  by  the  broader  foundations  on  which  this 
false  superstructure  of  the  blended  human  orders  was 
so  profanely  reared.  The  ill-assorted  and  injudicious 
attire  of  the  individual  only  served  to  render  his  awk 
wardness  more  conspicuous.  A  sky-blue  coat,  with  short 
and  broad  skirts  and  low  cape,  exposed  a  long  thin  neck, 
and  longer  and  thinner  legs,  to  the  worst  animadversions 
of  the  evil  disposed.  His  nether  garment  was  of  yellow 
nankeen,  closely  fitted  to  the  shape,  and  tied  at  his 
bunches  of  knees  by  large  knots  of  white  ribbon,  a  good 
deal  sullied  by  use.  Clouded  cotton  stockings,  and  shoes, 
on  one  of  the  latter  of  which  was  a  plated  spur,  com 
pleted  the  costume  of  the  lower  extremity  of  this  figure, 
no  curve  or  angle  of  which  was  concealed,  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  studiously  exhibited,  through  the  vanity  or 
simplicity  of  its  owner.  From  beneath  the  flap  of  an 
enormous  pocket  of  a  soiled  vest  of  embossed  silk, 
heavily  ornamented  with  tarnished  silver  lace,  projected 
an  instrument,  which,  from  being  seen  in  such  martial 
company,  might  have  been  easily  mistaken  for  some 
mischievous  and  unknown  implement  of  war.  Small  as 
it  was,  this  uncommon  engine  had  excited  the  curiosity 
of  most  of  the  Europeans  in  the  camp,  though  several 
of  the  provincials  were  seen  to  handle  it,  not  only  with 
out  fear,  but  with  the  utmost  familiarity.  A  large,  civil 
cocked  hat,  like  those  worn  by  clergymen  within  the 
last  thirty  years,  surmounted  the  whole,  furnishing  dig 
nity  to  a  good-natured  and  somewhat  vacant  countenance, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  n 

that  apparently  needed  such  artificial  aid,  to  support  the 
gravity  of  some  high  and  extraordinary  trust. 

While  the  common  herd  stood  aloof,  in  deference  to 
the  quarters  of  Webb,  the  figure  we  have  described 
stalked  into  the  center  of  the  domestics,  freely  expressing 
his  censures  or  commendations  on  the  merits  of  the 
horses,  as  by  chance  they  displeased  or  satisfied  his 
j  udgment. 

"  This  beast,  I  rather  conclude,  friend,  is  not  of  home 
raising,  but  is  from  foreign  lands,  or  perhaps  from  the 
little  island  itself  over  the  blue  water?"  he  said,  in  a 
voice  as  remarkable  for  the  softness  and  sweetness  of 
its  tones,  as  was  his  person  for  its  rare  proportions:  "I 
may  speak  of  these  things,  and  be  no  braggart;  for  I 
have  been  down  at  both  havens;  that  which  is  situate 
at  the  mouth  of  Thames,  and  is  named  after  the  capital 
of  Old  England,  and  that  which  is  called  '  Haven,'  with 
the  addition  of  the  word  *  New  ' ;  and  have  seen  the 
snows  and  brigantines  collecting  their  droves,  like  the 
gathering  to  the  ark,  being  outward  bound  to  the  Island 
of  Jamaica,  for  the  purpose  of  barter  and  traffic  in  four- 
footed  animals;  but  never  before  have  I  beheld  a  beast 
which  verified  the  true  Scripture  war-horse  like  this : 
'  He  paweth  in  the  valley,  and  rejoiceth  in  his  strength : 
he  goeth  on  to  meet  the  armed  men.  He  saith  among 
the  trumpets,  -Ha,  ha ;  and  he  smelleth  the  battle  afar 
off,  the  thunder  of  the  captains,  and  the  shouting/  It 
would  seem  that  the  stock  of  the  horse  of  Israel  has 
descended  to  our  own  time;  would  it  not,  friend?  " 

Receiving  no  reply  to  this  extraordinary  appeal,  which 
in  truth,  as  it  was  delivered  with  the  vigor  of  full  and 
sonorous  tones,  merited  some  sort  of  notice,  he  who  had 
thus  sung  forth  the  language  of  the  Holy  Book  turned 


12  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

to  the  silent  figure  to  whom  he  had  unwittingly  ad 
dressed  himself,  and  found  a  new  and  more  powerful 
subject  of  admiration  in  the  object  that  encountered 
his  gaze.  His  eyes  fell  on  the  still,  upright,  and  rigid 
form  of  the  "  Indian  runner,"  who  had  borne  to  the 
camp  the  unwelcome  tidings  of  the  preceding  evening. 
Although  in  a  state  of  perfect  repose,  and  apparently 
disregarding,  with  characteristic  stoicism,  the  excitement 
and  bustle  around  him,  there  was  a  sullen  fierceness 
mingled  with  the  quiet  of  the  savage,  that  was  likely 
to  arrest  the  attention  of  much  more  experienced  eyes 
than  those  which  now  scanned  him,  in  unconcealed 
amazement.  The  native  bore  both  the  tomahawk  and 
I/  knife  of  liis  tribe ;  and  yet  his  appearance  was  not 
altogether  that  of  a  warrior.  On  the  contrary,  there 
was  an  air  of  neglect  about  his  person,  like  that  which 
might  have  proceeded  from  great  and  recent  ex 
ertion,  which  he  had  not  yet  found  leisure  to  repair. 
The  colors  of  the  war-paint  had  blended  in  dark  con 
fusion  about  his  fierce  countenance,  and  rendered  his 
swarthy  lineaments  still  more  savage  and  repulsive  than 
if  art  had  attempted  an  effect  which  had  been  thus 
produced  by  chance.  His  eye,  alone,  which  glistened 
like  a  fiery  star  amid  lowering  clouds,  was  to  be  seen 
in  its  state  of  native  wildness.  For  a  single  instant, 
his  searching  and  yet  wary  glance  met  the  wondering 
look  of  the  other,  and  then  changing  its  direction,  partly 
in  cunning,  and  partly  in  disdain,  it  remained  fixed,  as 
if  penetrating  the  distant  air. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  what  unlooked-for  remark  this 
short  and  silent  communication,  between  two  such  sin 
gular  men,  might  have  elicited  from  the  white  man, 
had  not  his  active  curiosity  been  again  drawn  to  other 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  13 

objects.  A  general  movement  among  the  domestics,  and 
a  low  sound  of  gentle  voices,  announced  the  approach 
of  those  whose  presence  alone  was  wanted  to  enable  the 
cavalcade  to  move.  The  simple  admirer  of  the  war- 
horse  instantly  fell  back  to  a  low,  gaunt,  switch-tailed 
mare,  that  was  unconsciously  gleaning  the  faded  herbage 
of  the  camp  nigh  by;  where,  leaning  with  one  elbow  on 
the  blanket  that  concealed  an  apology  for  a  saddle,  he 
became  a  spectator  of  the  departure,  while  a  foal  was 
quietly  making  its  morning  repast,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  same  animal. 

A  young  man,  in  the  dress  of  an  officer,  conducted  to 
their  steeds  two  females,  who,  as  it  was  apparent  by 
their  dresses,  were  prepared  to  encounter  the  fatigues 
of  a  journey  in  the  woods.  One,  and  she  was  the  most 
juvenile  in  her  appearance,  though  both  were  young,  per 
mitted  glimpses  of  her  dazzling  complexion,  fair,  golden 
hair,  and  bright  blue  eyes,  to  be  caught,  as  she  artlessly 
suffered  the  morning  air  to  blow  aside  the  green  veil 
which  descended  low  from  her  beaver.  The  flush  which 
still  lingered  above  the  pines  in  the  western  sky  was 
not  more  bright  nor  delicate  than  the  bloom  on  her 
cheek;  nor  was  the  opening  day  more  cheering  than  the 
animated  smile  which  she  bestowed  on  the  youth,  as  he 
assisted  her  into  the  saddle.  The  other,  who  appeared 
to  share  equally  in  the  attentions  of  tbe  young  officer, 
concealed  her  charms  from  the  gaze  of  the  soldiery, 
with  a  care  that  seemed  better  fitted  to  the  experience  of 
four  or  five  additional  years.  It  could  be  seen,  however, 
that  her  person,  though  molded  with  the  same  exquisite 
proportions,  of  which  none  of  the  graces  were  lost  by  the 
traveling  dress  she  wore,  was  rather  fuller  and  more 
mature  than  that  of  her  companion. 


14  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

No  sooner  were  these  females  seated,  than  their  attend 
ant  sprang  lightly  into  the  saddle  of  the  war-horse, 
when  the  whole  three  bowed  to  Webb,  who,  in  courtesy, 
awaited  their  parting  on  the  threshold  of  his  cabin, 
and  turning  their  horses'  heads,  they  proceeded  at  a 
slow  amble,  followed  by  their  train,  towards  the  northern 
entrance  of  the  encampment.  As  they  traversed  that 
short  distance,  not  a  voice  was  heard  amongst  them;  but 
a  slight  exclamation  proceeded  from  the  younger  of 
the  females,  as  the  Indian  runner  glided  by  her,  un 
expectedly,  and  led  the  way  along  the  military  road  in 
her  front.  Though  this  sudden  and  startling  movement 
of  the  Indian  produced  no  sound  from  the  other,  in 
the  surprise  her  veil  also  was  allowed  to  open  its  folds, 
and  betrayed  an  indescribable  look  of  pity,  admiration, 
and  horror,  as  her  dark  eye  followed  the  easy  motions 
of  the  savage.  The  tresses  of  this  lady  were  shining 
and  black,  like  the  plumage  of  the  raven.  Her  com 
plexion  was  not  brown,  but  it  rather  appeared  charged 
with  the  color  of  the  rich  blood,  that  seemed  ready  to 
burst  its  bounds.  And  yet  there  was  neither  coarseness 
nor  want  of  shadowing  in  a  countenance  that  was  ex 
quisitely  regular  and  dignified,  and  surpassingly  beauti 
ful.  She  smiled,  as  if  in  pity  at  her  own  momentary 
forgetfulness,  discovering  by  the  act  a  row  of  teeth 
that  would  have  shamed  the  purest  ivory ;  when,  replacing 
the  veil,  she  bowed  her  face,  and  rode  in  silence,  like 
one  whose  thoughts  were  abstracted  from  the  scene 
around  her. 


CHAPTER 
II. 

"  Sola,  sola,  wo,  ha,  ho,  sola ! " 

SHAKESPEARE. 

WHILE  one  of  the  lovely  beings  we  have  so  cursorily 
presented  to  the  reader  was  thus  lost  in  thought, 
the  other  quickly  recovered  from  the  alarm  which  in 
duced  the  exclamation,  and,  laughing  at  her  own  weak 
ness,  she  inquired  of  the  youth  who  rode  by  her  side, — 

"  Are  such  specters  frequent  in  the  woods,  Heyward ; 
or  is  this  sight  an  especial  entertainment  on  our  behalf? 
If  the  latter,  gratitude  must  close  our  mouths ;  but  if 
the  former,  both  Cora  and  I  shall  have  need  to  draw 
largely  on  that  stock  of  hereditary  courage  which  we 
boast,  even  before  we  are  made  to  encounter  the  re 
doubtable  Montcalm." 

"  Yon  Indian  is  a  '  runner '  of  the  army ;  and,  after  the 
fashion  of  his  people,  he  may  be  accounted  a  hero,"  re 
turned  the  officer.  "  He  has  volunteered  to  guide  us  to 
the  lake,  by  a  path  but  little  known,  sooner  than  if  we 
followed  the  tardy  movements  of  the  column:  and,  by 
consequence,  more  agreeably." 

"  I  like  him  not,"  said  the  lady,  shuddering,  partly  in 

15 


1 6  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

assumed,  yet  more  in  real  terror.  "  You  know  him,  Dun 
can,  or  you  would  not  trust  yourself  so  freely  to  his 
keeping?  " 

"  Say,  rather,  Alice,  that  I  would  not  trust  you.  I  do 
know  him,  or  he  would  not  have  my  confidence,  and  least 
of  all  at  this  moment.  He  is  said  to  be  a  Canadian  too ; 
and  yet  he  served  with  our  friends  the  Mohawks,  who,  as 
you  know,  are  one  of  the  six  allied  nations.1  He  was 
brought  among  us,  as  I  have  heard,  by  some  strange  acci 
dent  in  which  your  father  was  interested,  and  in  which  the 
savage  was  rigidly  dealt  by — but  I  forget  the  idle  tale; 
it  is  enough,  that  he  is  now  our  friend." 

"  If  he  has  been  my  father's  enemy,  I  like  him  still 
less !  "  exclaimed  the  now  really  anxious  girl.  "  Will  you 
not  speak  to  him,  Major  Heyward,  that  I  may  hear  his 
tones?  Foolish  though  it  may  be,  you  have  often  heard 
me  avow  my  faith  in  the  tones  of  the  human  voice!  " 

"  It  would  be  in  vain ;  and  answered,  most  probably,  by 
an  ejaculation.  Though  he  may  understand  it,  he  affects, 

1  There  existed  for  a  long  time  a  confederation  among  the 
Indian  tribes  which  occupied  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
colony  of  New  York,  which  was  at  first  known  as  the  "  Five 
Nations."  At  a  later  day  it  admitted  another  tribe,  when  the 
appellation  was  changed  to  that  of  the  "  Six  Nations."  The 
original  confederation  consisted  of  the  Mohawks,  the  Oneidas, 
the  Senecas,  the  Cayugas,  and  the  Onondagas.  The  sixth  tribe 
was  the  Tuscaroras.  There  are  remnants  of  all  these  people  still 
living  on  lands  secured  to  them  by  the  State;  but  they  are 
daily  disappearing,  either  by  deaths  or  by  removals  to  scenes 
more  congenial  to  their  habits.  In  a  short  time  there  will  be 
no  remains  of  these  extraordinary  people,  in  those  regions  in 
which  they  dwelt  for  centuries,  but  their  names.  The  State  of 
New  York  has  counties  named  after  all  of  them  but  the 
Mohawks  and  the  Tuscaroras.  The  second  river  of  that  State  is 
called  the  Mohawk. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  17 

like  most  of  his  people,  to  be  ignorant  of  the  English ; 
and  least  of  all  will  he  condescend  to  speak  it,  now  that 
war  demands  the  utmost  exercise  of  his  dignity.  But 
he  stops ;  the  private  path  by  which  we  are  to  journey  is, 
doubtless,  at  hand." 

The  conjecture  of  Major  Heyward  was  true.  When 
they  reached  the  spot  where  the  Indian  stood,  pointing 
into  the  thicket  that  fringed  the  military  road,  a  narrow 
and  blind  path,  which  might,  with  some  little  incon 
venience,  receive  one  person  at  a  time,  became  visible. 

"  Here,  then,  lies  our  way,"  said  the  young  man,  in  a 
low  voice.  "  Manifest  no  distrust,  or  you  may  invite  the 
danger  you  appear  to  apprehend." 

"  Cora,  what  think  you  ?  "  asked  the  reluctant  fair  one. 
"  If  we  journey  with  the  troops,  though  we  may  find  their 
presence  irksome,  shall  we  not  feel  better  assurance  of 
our  safety  ?  " 

"  Being  little  accustomed  to  the  practices  of  the  savages, 
Alice,  you  mistake  the  place  of  real  danger,"  said  Hey 
ward.  "  If  enemies  have  reached  the  portage  at  all,  a 
thing  by  no  means  probable,  as  our  scouts  are  abroad,  they 
will  surely  be  found  skirting  the  column,  where  scalps 
abound  the  most.  The  route  of  the  detachment  is  known, 
while  ours,  having  been  determined  within  the  hour, 
must  still  be  secret." 

"  Should  we  distrust  the  man  because  his  manners  are 
not  our  manners,  and  that  his  skin  is  dark?  "  coldly  asked 
Cora. 

Alice  hesitated  no  longer ;  but  giving  her  Narragansett  * 

1  In  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  there  is  a  bay  called  Narragan 
sett,  so  named  after  a  powerful  tribe  of  Indians,  which  formerly 
dwelt  on  its  banks.  Accident,  or  one  of  those  unaccountable 
freaks  which  nature  sometimes  plays  in  the  animal  world,  gave 


1 8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

a  smart  cut  of  the  whip,  she  was  the  first  to  dash  aside 
the  slight  branches  of  the  bushes,  and  to  follow  the  run 
ner  along  the  dark  and  tangled  pathway.  The  young 
man  regarded  the  last  speaker  in  open  admiration,  and 
even  permitted  her  fairer  though  certainly  not  more  beau 
tiful  companion  to  proceed  unattended,  while  he  sedu 
lously  opened  the  way  himself  for  the  passage  of  her  who 
has  been  called  Cora.  It  would  seem  that  the  domestics 
had  been  previously  instructed  ;  for,  instead  of  penetrating 
the  thicket,  they  followed  the  route  of  the  column;  a 
measure  which  Heyward  stated  had  been  dictated  by  the 
sagacity  of  their  guide,  in  order  to  diminish  the  marks  of 
their  trail,  if,  haply,  the  Canadian  savages  should  be  lurk 
ing  so  far  in  advance  of  their  army.  For  many  minutes 
the  intricacy  of  the  route  admitted  of  no  further  dialogue  ; 
after  which  they  emerged  from  the  broad  border  of 
underbrush  which  grew  along  the  line  of  the  highway, 
and  entered  under  the  high  but  dark  arches  of  the  forest. 
Here  their  progress  was  less  interrupted ;  and  the  instant 
the  guide  perceived  that  the  females  could  command  their 
steeds,  he  moved  on,  at  a  pace  between  a  trot  and  a  walk, 
and  at  a  rate  which  kept  the  sure-footed  and  peculiar 
animals  they  rode,  at  a  fast  yet  easy  amble.  The  youth 
had  turned  to  speak  to  the  dark-eyed  Cora,  when  the 
distant  sound  of  horses'  hoofs,  clattering  over  the  roots 

rise  to  a  breed  of  horses  which  were  once  well  known  in 
America  by  the  name  of  the  Narragansetts.  They  were  small, 
commonly  of  the  color  called  sorrel  in  America,  and  distinguished 
by  their  habit  of  pacing.  Horses  of  this  race  were,  and  are 
still,  in  much  request  as  saddle-horses,  on  account  of  their 
hardiness  and  the  ease  of  their  movements.  As  they  were  also 
sure  of  foot,  the  Narragansetts  were  greatly  sought  for  by  fe 
males  who  were  obliged  to  travel  over  the  roots  and  holes  in 
the  "  new  countries." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  19 

of  the  broken  way  in  his  rear,  caused  him  to  check  his 
charger;  and,  as  his  companions  drew  their  reins  at  the 
same  instant,  the  whole  party  came  to  a  halt,  in  order  to 
obtain  an  explanation  of  the  unlooked-for  interruption. 

In  a  few  moments  a  colt  was  seen  gliding,  like  a  fallow- 
deer,  among  the  straight  trunks  of  the  pines;  and,  in 
another  instant,  the  person  of  the  ungainly  man,  described 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  came  into  view,  with  as  much 
rapidity  as  he  could  excite  his  meager  beast  to  endure 
without  coming  to  an  open  rupture.  Until  now  this  per 
sonage  had  escaped  the  observation  of  the  travelers.  If 
he  possessed  the  power  to  arrest  any  wandering  eye  when 
exhibiting  the  glories  of  his  altitude  on  foot,  his  equestrian 
graces  were  still  more  likely  to  attract  attention.  Not 
withstanding  a  constant  application  of  his  one  armed  heel 
to  the  flanks  of  the  mare,  the  most  confirmed  gait  that  he 
could  establish  was  a  Canterbury  gallop  with  the  hind 
legs,  in  which  those  more  forward  assisted  for  doubtful 
moments,  though  generally  content  to  maintain  a  loping 
trot.  Perhaps  the  rapidity  of  the  changes  from  one  of 
these  paces  to  the  other  created  an  optical  illusion,  which 
might  thus  magnify  the  powers  of  the  beast;  for  it  is 
certain  that  Heyward,  who  possessed  a  true  eye  for  the 
merits  of  a  horse,  was  unable,  with  his  utmost  ingenuity, 
to  decide  by  what  sort  of  movement  his  pursuer  worked 
his  sinuous  way  on  his  footsteps  with  such  persevering 
hardihood. 

The  industry  and  movements  of  the  rider  were  not  less 
remarkable  than  those  of  the  ridden.  At  each  change 
in  the  evolutions  of  the  latter,  the  former  raised  his  tall 
person  in  the  stirrups ;  producing,  in  this  manner,  by  the 
undue  elongation  of  his  legs,  such  sudden  growth  and 
dinainishings  of  the  stature,  as  baffled  every  conjecture 


2O  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

that  might  be  made  as  to  his  dimensions.  If  to  this  be 
added  the  fact  that,  in  consequence  of  the  ex  parte  appli 
cation  of  the  spur,  one  side  of  the  mare  appeared  to 
journey  faster  than  the  other;  and  that  the  aggrieved 
flank  was  resolutely  indicated  by  unremitted  flourishes  of 
a  bushy  tail,  we  finish  the  picture  of  both  horse  and  man. 

The  frown  which  had  gathered  around  the  handsome, 
open,  and  manly  brow  of  Heyward,  gradually  relaxed,  and 
his  lips  curled  into  a  slight  smile,  as  he  regarded  the 
stranger.  Alice  made  no  very  powerful  effort  to  control 
her  merriment ;  and  even  the  dark,  thoughtful  eye  of 
Cora  lighted  with  a  humor  that,  it  would  seem,  the  habit, 
rather  than  the  nature  of  its  mistress  repressed. 

"  Seek  you  any  here  ?  "  demanded  Heyward,  when  the 
other  had  arrived  sufficiently  nigh  to  abate  his  speed ;  "  I 
trust  you  are  no  messenger  of  evil  tidings  ?  " 

"  Even  so,"  replied  the  stranger,  making  diligent  use 
of  his  triangular  castor,  to  produce  a  circulation  in  the 
close  air  of  the  woods,  and  leaving  his  hearers  in  doubt  to 
which  of  the  young  man's  questions  he  responded ;  when, 
however,  he  had  cooled  his  face,  and  recovered  hisbreath] 
he  continued,  "  I  hear  you  are  riding  to  William  Henry; 
as  I  am  journeying  thitherward  myself,  I  concluded  good 
company  would  seem  consistent  to  the  wishes  of  .both 
parties." 

"  You  appear  to  possess  the  privilege  of  a  casting  vote/' 
returned  Heyward;  "we  are  three,  whilst  you  have  con 
sulted  no  one  but  yourself." 

"  Even  so.  The  first  point  to  be  obtained  is  to  know 
one's  own  mind.  Once  sure  of  that,  and  where  women 
are  concerned,  it  is  not  easy,  the  next  is,  to  act  up  to  the 
decision.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  both,  and  here  I  am." 

"  If  you  journey  to  the  lake,  you  have  mistaken  your 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  21 

route,"  said  Heyward,  haughtily ;  "  the  highway  thither  is 
at  least  half  a  mile  behind  you." 

"  Even  so,"  returned  the  stranger,  nothing  daunted  by 
this  cold  reception ;  "  I  have  tarried  at  '  Edward  '  a  week, 
and  I  should  be  dumb  not  to  have  inquired  the  road  I  was 
to  journey;  and  if  dumb  there  would  be  an  end  to  my 
calling."  After  simpering  in  a  small  way,  like  one  whose 
modesty  prohibited  a  more  open  expression  of  his  admira 
tion  of  a  witticism  that  was  perfectly  unintelligible  to  his 
hearers,  he  continued :  "  It  is  not  prudent  for  any  one  of 
my  profession  to  be  t6o  familiar  with  those  he  is  to 
instruct;  for  which  reason  I  follow  not  the  line  of  the 
army ;  besides  which,  I  conclude  that  a  gentleman  of  your 
character  has  the  best  judgment  in  matters  of  wayfaring; 
I  have  therefore  decided  to  join  company,  in  order  that 
the  ride  may  be  made  agreeable,  and  partake  of  social 
communion." 

"  A  most  arbitrary,  if  not  a  hasty  decision !  "  exclaimed 
Heyward,  undecided  whether  to  give  vent  to  his  growing 
anger,  or  to  laugh  in  the  other's  face.  "  But  you  speak 
of  instruction,  and  of  a  profession;  are  you  an  adjunct 
to  the  provincial  corps,  as  a  master  of  the  noble  science 
of  defense  and  offense ;  or,  perhaps,  you  are  one  who 
draws  lines  and  angles,  under  the  pretense  of  expounding 
the  mathematics  ?  " 

The  stranger  regarded  his  interrogator  a  moment,  in 
wonder ;  and  then,  losing  every  mark  of  self-satisfaction 
in  an  expression  of  solemn  humility,  he  answered : — 

"  Of  offense,  I  hope  there  is  none,  to  either  party :  of 
defense,  I  make  none — by  God's  good  mercy,  having  com 
mitted  no  palpable  sin  since  last  entreating  his  pardoning 
grace.  I  understand  not  your  allusions  about  lines  and 
angles;  and  I  leave  expounding  to  those  who  have  been 


22  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

called  and  set  apart  for  that  holy  office.  I  lay  claim  to  no 
higher  gift  than  a  small  insight  into  the  glorious  art  of 
petitioning  and  thanksgiving,  as  practised  in  psalmody." 

"  The  man  is,  most  manifestly,  a  disciple  of  Apollo," 
cried  the  amused  Alice,  "  and  I  take  him  under  iny  own 
especial  protection.  Nay,  throw  aside  that  frown,  Hey- 
ward,  and  in  pity  to  my  longing  ears,  suffer  him  to  jour 
ney  in  our  train.  Besides,"  she  added,  in  a  low  and  hur 
ried  voice,  casting  a  glance  at  the  distant  Cora,  who 
slowly  followed  the  footsteps  of  their  silent  but  sullen 
guide,  "  it  may  be  a  friend  added  to  our  strength,  in  time 
of  need." 

"  Think  you,  Alice,  that  I  would  trust  those  I  love  by 
this  secret  path,  did  I  imagine  such  need  could  happen  ?  " 

"  Nay,  nay,  I  think  not  of  it  now ;  but  this  strange  man 
amuses  me ;  and  if  he  '  hath  music  in  his  soul/  let  us  not 
churlishly  reject  his  company."  She  pointed  persuasively 
along  the  path  with  her  riding-whip,  while  their  eyes  met 
in  a  look  which  the  young  man  lingered  a  moment  to  pro 
long;  then  yielding  to  her  gentle  influence,  he  clapped  his 
spurs  into  his  charger,  and  in  a  few  bounds  was  again  at 
the  side  of  Cora. 

"  I  am  glad  to  encounter  thee,  friend,"  continued  the 
maiden,  waving  her  hand  to  the  stranger  to  proceed,  as 
she  urged  her  Narragansett  to  renew  its  amble.  "  Partial 
relatives  have  almost  persuaded  me  that  I  am  not  entirely 
worthless  in  a  duet  myself ;  and  we  may  enliven  our  way 
faring  by  indulging  in  our  favorite  pursuit.  It  might  be 
of  signal  advantage  to  one,  ignorant  as  I,  to  hear  the 
opinions  and  experience  of  a  master  in  the  art." 

"  It  is  refreshing  both  to  the  spirits  and  to  the  body  to 
indulge  in  psalmody,  in  befitting  seasons,"  returned  the 
master  of  song,  unhesitatingly  complying  with  her  intima- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  23 

tion  to  follow ;  "  and  nothing  would  relieve  the  mind  more 
than  such  a  consoling  communion.  But  four  parts  are 
altogether  necessary  to  the  perfection  of  melody.  You 
have  all  the  manifestations  of  a  soft  and  rich  treble ;  I  can, 
by  eso^cial  aid,  carry  a  full  tenor  to  the  highest  letter ;  but 
we  lack  counter  and  bass !  Yon  officer  of  the  king,  who 
hesitated  to  admit  me  to  his  company,  might  fill  the  latter, 
if  one  may  judge  from  the  intonations  of  his  voice  in 
common  dialogue." 

"  Judge  not  too  rashly  from  hasty  and  deceptive  appear 
ances,"  said  the  lady,  smiling;  "though  Major  Heyward 
can  assume  such  deep  notes  on  occasion,  believe  me,  his 
natural  tones  are  better  fitted  for  a  mellow  tenor  than  the 
bass  you  heard." 

"  Is  he,  then,  much  practised  in  the  art  of  psalmody  ?  " 
demanded  her  simple  companion. 

Alice  felt  disposed  to  laugh,  though  she  succeeded  in 
suppressing  her  merriment,  ere  she  answered, — 

"I  apprehend  that  he  is  rather  addicted  to  profane 
song.  The  chances  of  a  soldier's  life  are  but  little  fitted 
for  the  encouragement  of  more  sober  inclinations." 

"  Man's  voice  is  given  to  him,  like  his  other  talents,  to 
be  used,  and  not  to  be  abused.  None  can  say  they  have 
ever  known  me  neglect  my  gifts  \  I  am  thankful  that, 
though  my  boyhood  may  be  said  to  have  been  set  apart, 
like  the  youth  of  the  royal  David,  for  the  purposes  of 
music,  no  syllable  of  rude  verse  has  ever  profaned  my 
lips." 

"  You  have,  then,  limited  your  efforts  to  sacred  song?  " 

"  Even  so.  As  the  psalms  of  David  exceed  all  other 
language,  so  does  the  psalmody  that  has  been  fitted  to 
them  by  the  divines  and  sages  of  the  land,  surpass  all  vain 
poetry.  Happily,  I  may  say  that  I  utter  nothing  but  the 


24  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

thoughts  and  the  wishes  of  the  King  of  Israel  himself; 
for  though  the  times  may  call  for  some  slight  changes,  yet 
does  this  version  which  we  use  in  the  colonies  of  New 
England,  so  much  exceed  all  other  versions,  that,  by  its 
richness,  its  exactness,  and  its  spiritual  simplicity,  it 
approacheth,  as  near  as  may  be,  to  the  great  work  of  the 
inspired  writer.  I  never  abide  in  any  place,  sleeping  or 
waking,  without  an  example  of  this  gifted  work.  Tis  the 
six-and-twentieth  edition,  promulgated  at  Boston,  Anno 
-Domini,  1774;  and  is  entitled,  The  Psalms,  Hymns  and 
Spiritual  Songs  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments;  faith 
fully  translated  into  English  Meter,  for  the  Use,  Edifica 
tion,  and  Comfort  of  the  Saints,  in  Public  and  Private, 
especially  in  New  England!' 

During  this  eulogium  on  the  rare  production  of  his 
native  poets,  the  stranger  had  drawn  the  book  from  his 
pocket,  and,  fitting  a  pair  of  iron-rimmed  spectacles  to 
his  nose,  opened  the  volume  with  a  care  and  veneration 
suited  to  its  sacred  purposes.  Then,  without  circumlocu 
tion  or  apology,  first  pronouncing  the  word  "  Standish," 
and  placing  the  unknown  engine,  already  described,  to 
his  mouth,  from  which  he  drew  a  high,  shrill  sound,  that 
was  followed  by  an  octave  below,  from  his  own  voice,  he 
commenced  singing  the  following  words,  in  full,  sweet, 
and  melodious  tones,  that  set  the  music,  the  poetry,  and 
even  the  uneasy  motion  of  his  ill-trained  beast  at  de 
fiance  : — 

"  How  good  it  is,  O  see, 

And  how  it  pleaseth  well, 
Together,  e'en  in  unity, 
For  brethren  so  to  dwell. 

It's  like  the  choice  ointment, 
From  the  head  to  the  beard  did  go: 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  25 

Down  Aaron's  beard,  that  downward  went, 
His  garment's  skirts  unto." 

The  delivery  of  these  skilful  rhymes  was  accompanied, 
on  the  part  of  the  stranger,  by  a  regular  rise  and  fall  of 
his  right  hand,  which  terminated  at  the  descent,  by  suf 
fering  the  fingers  to  dwell  a  moment  on  the  leaves  of  the 
little  volume ;  and  on  the  ascent,  by  such  a  flourish  of  the 
member  as  none  but  the  initiated  may  ever  hope  to 
imitate.  It  would  seem  that  long  practice  had  rendered 
this  manual  accompaniment  necessary;  for  it  did  not 
cease  until  the  preposition  which  the  poet  had  selected 
for  the  close  of  his  verse,  had  been  duly  delivered  like 
a  word  of  two  syllables. 

Such  an  innovation  on  the  silence  and  retirement  of  the 
forest  could  not  fail  to  enlist  the  ears  of  those  who  jour 
neyed  at  so  short  a  distance  in  advance.  The  Indian  mut 
tered  a  few  words  in  broken  English  to  Heyward,  who, 
in  his  turn,  spoke  to  the  stranger;  at  once  interrupting, 
and,  for  the  time,  closing  his  musical  efforts. 

"  Though  we  are  not  in  danger,  common  prudence 
would  teach  us  to  journey  through  this  wilderness  in  as 
quiet  a  manner  as  possible.  You  will,  then,  pardon  me, 
Alice,  should  I  diminish  your  enjoyments,  by  requesting 
this  gentleman  to  postpone  his  chant  until  a  safer  oppor 
tunity." 

"  You  will  diminish  them,  indeed,"  returned  the  arch 
girl,  "  for  never  did  I  hear  a  more  unworthy  conjunction 
of  execution  and  language,  than  that  to  which  I  have 
been  listening;  and  I  was  far  gone  in  a  learned  inquiry 
into  the  causes  of  such  an  unfitness  between  sound  and 
sense,  when  you  broke  the  charm  of  my  musings  by  that 
bass  of  yours,  Duncan !  " 

"  I  know  not  what  you  call  my  bass,"  said  Heyward, 


26  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

piqued  at  her  remark,  "  but  I  know  that  your  safety,  and 
that  of  Cora,  is  far  dearer  to  me  than  could  be  any 
orchestra  of  Handel's  music."  He  paused  and  turned 
his  head  quickly  towards  a  thicket,  and  then  bent  his  eyes 
suspiciously  on  their  guide,  who  continued  his  steady 
pace,  in  undisturbed  gravity.  The  young  man  smiled  to 
himself,  for  he  believed  he  had  mistaken  some  shining 
berry  of  the  woods  for  the  glistening  eyeballs  of  a  prowl 
ing  savage,  and  he  rode  forward,  continuing  the  con 
versation  which  had  been  interrupted  by  the  passing 
thought. 

Major  Heyward  was  mistaken  only  in  suffering  his 
youthful  and  generous  pride  to  suppress  his  active  watch 
fulness.  The  cavalcade  had  not  long  passed,  before  the 
branches  of  the  bushes  that  formed  the  thicket  were 
cautiously  moved  asunder,  and  a  human  visage,  as  fiercely 
wild  as  savage  art  and  unbridled  passions  could  make  it, 
peered  out  on  the  retiring  footsteps  of  the  travelers.  A 
gleam  of  exultation  shot  across  the  darkly  painted 
lineaments  of  the  inhabitant  of  the  forest,  as  he  traced  the 
route  of  his  intended  victims,  who  rode  unconsciously 
onward ;  the  light  and  graceful  forms  of  the  females  wav 
ing  among  the  trees,  in  the  curvatures  of  their  path,  fol 
lowed  at  each  bend  by  the  manly  figure  of  Heyward, 
until,  finally,  the  shapeless  person  of  the  singing-master 
was  concealed  behind  the  numberless  trunks  of  trees,  that 
rose,  in  dark  lines,  in  the  intermediate  space. 


CHAPTER 
III.   &   & 


"  Before   these  fields   were   shorn   and   tilled, 

Full  to  the  brim  our  rivers  flowed; 
The  melody  of  waters  filled 

The 'fresh  and  boundless  wood; 
And  torrents  dashed,  and  rivulets  played, 
And  fountains  spouted  in  the  shade." 

BRYANT. 

LEAVING  the  unsuspecting  Hey  ward  and  his  con 
fiding  companions  to  penetrate  still  deeper  into  a 
forest  that  contained  such  treacherous  inmates,  we  must 
use  an  author's  privilege,  and  shift  the  scene  a  few  miles 
to  the  westward  of  the  place  where  we  have  last  seen 
them. 

On  that  day,  two  men  were  lingering  on  the  banks  of  a 
small  but  rapid  stream,  within  an  hour's  journey  of  the 
encampment  of  Webb,  like  those  who  awaited  the  ap 
pearance  of  an  absent  person,  or  the  approach  of  some 
expected  event.  The  vast  canopy  of  woods  spread  itself 
to  the  margin  of  the  river,  overhanging  the  water,  and 
shadowing  its  dark  current  with  a  deeper  hue.  The  rays 
of  the  sun  were  beginning  to  grow  less  fierce,  and  the 
intense  heat  of  the  day  was  lessened,  as  the  cooler  va- 

27 


28  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

pors  of  the  springs  and  fountains  rose  above  their  leafy 
beds,  and  rested  in  the  atmosphere.  Still  that  breathing 
silence,  which  marks  the  drowsy  sultriness  of  an  Ameri 
can  landscape  in  July,  pervaded  the  secluded  spot,  inter 
rupted  only  by  the  low  voices  of  the  men,  the  occasional 
and  lazy  tap  of  a  woodpecker,  the  discordant  cry  of  some 
gaudy  jay,  or  a  swelling  on  the  ear,  from  the  dull  roar 
of  a  distant  waterfall. 

These  feeble  and  broken  sounds  were,  however,  too 
familiar  to  the  foresters,  to  draw  their  attention  from  the 
more  interesting  matter  of  their  dialogue.  While  one  of 
these  loiterers  showed  the  red  skin  and  wild  accouter- 
ments  of  a  native  of  the  woods,  the  other  exhibited, 
through  the  mask  of  his  rude  and  nearly  savage  equip 
ments,  the  brighter,  though  sunburnt  and  long-faded 
complexion  of  one  who  might  claim  descent  from  a  Eu 
ropean  parentage.  The  former  was  seated  on  the  end 
of  a  mossy  log,  in  a  posture  that  permitted  him  to 
heighten  the  effect  of  his  earnest  language,  by  the  calm 
but  expressive  gestures  of  an  Indian  engaged  in  debate. 
His  body,  which  was  nearly  naked,  presented  a  terrific 
emblem  of  death,  drawn  in  intermingled  colors  of  white 
and  black.  His  closely  shaved  head,  on  which  no  other 
hair  than  the  well  known  and  chivalrous  scalping  tuft 1 
was  preserved,  was  without  ornament  of  any  kind,  with 

1The  North  American  warrior  caused  the  hair  to  be  plucked 
from  his  whole  body;  a  small  tuft,  only,  was  left  on  the  crown  of 
his  head  in  order  that  his  enemy  might  avail  himself  of  it,  in 
wrenching  off  the  scalp  in  the  event  of  his  fall.  The  scalp  was 
the  only  admissible  trophy  of  victory.  Thus,  it  was  deemed 
more  important  to  obtain  the  scalp  than  to  kill  the  man.  Some 
tribes  lay  great  stress  on  the  honor  of  striking  a  dead  body. 
These  practices  have  nearly  disappeared  among  the  Indians  of 
the  Atlantic  States. 


—  CAJ 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  29 


the  exception  of  a  solitary  eagle's  plume,  that  crossed  his 
crown,  and  depended  over  the  left  shoulder.  A  toma 
hawk  and  scalping-knife,  of  English  manufacturer  were 
in  his  girdle;  while  a  short  military  rifle,  of  that  sort 
with  which  the  policy  of  the  whites  armed  their  savage 
allies,  lay  carelessly  across  his  bare  and  sinewy  knee. 
The  expanded  chest,  full  formed  limbs,  and  grave  coun 
tenance  of  this  warrior,  would  denote  that  he  had  reached 
the  vigor  of  his  days,  though  no  symptoms  of  decay  ap 
peared  to  have  yet  weakened  his  manhood. 

The  frame  of  the  white  man,  judging  by  such  parts 
as  were  not  concealed  by  his  clothes,  was  like  that  of 
one  who  had  known  hardships  and  exertion  from  his 
earliest  youth.  His  person,  though  muscular,  was  rather 
attenuated  than  full;  but  every  nerve  and  muscle  ap 
peared  strung  and  indurated  by  unremitted  exposure  and 
toil.  He  wore  a  hunting-shirt  of  forest  green,  fringed 
with  faded  yellow,1  and  a  summer  cap  of  skins  which 
had  been  shorn  of  their  fur.  He  also  bore  a  knife  in  a 
girdle  of  wampum,  like  that  which  confined  the  scanty 
garments  of  the  Indian,  but  no  tomahawk.  His  mocca 
sins  were  ornamented  after  the  gay  fashion  of  the  na 
tives,  while  the  only  part  of  his  under-dress  which 
appeared  below  the  hunting-frock,  was  a  pair  of  buck 
skin  leggings,  that  laced  at  the  sides,  and  which  were 
'gartered  above  the  knees  with  the  sinews  of  a  deer.  A 
pouch  and  horn  completed  his  personal  accouterments, 

1The  hunting-shirt  is  a  picturesque  smock  frock,  being  shorter, 
and  ornamented  with  fringes  and  tassels.  The  colors  are  in 
tended  to  imitate  the  hues  of  the  wood  with  a  view  to  con 
cealment.  Many  corps  of  American  riflemen  have  been  thus 
attired;  and  the  dress  is  one  of  the  most  striking  of  modern 
times.  The  hunting-shirt  is  frequently  white. 


30  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

though  a  rifle  of  great  length/  which  the  theory  of  the 
more  ingenious  whites  had  taught  them  was  the  most 
dangerous  of  all  firearms,  leaned  against  a  neighboring 
sapling.  The  eye  of  the  hunter,  or  scout,  whichever  he 
might  be,  was  small,  quick,  keen,  and  restless,  roving 
while  he  spoke,  on  every  side  of  him,  as  if  in  quest  of 
game,  or  distrusting  the  sudden  approach  of  some  lurk 
ing  enemy.  Notwithstanding  the  symptoms  of  habitual 
suspicion,  his  countenance  was  not  only  without  guile, 
but  at  the  moment  at  which  he  is  introduced,  it  was 
charged  with  an  expression  of  sturdy  honesty. 

"  Even  your  traditions  make  the  case  in  my  favor, 
Chingachgook,"  he  said,  speaking  in  the  tongue  A  which 
was  known  to  all  the  natives  who  formerly  inhabited 
the  country  between  the  Hudson  and  the  Potomac,  and 
of  which  we  shall  give  a  free  translation  for  the  benefit 
of  the  reader ;  endeavoring,  at  the  same  time,  to  preserve 
some  of  the  peculiarities,  both  of  the  individual  and  of 
the  language.  "  Your  fathers  came  from  the  setting  sun, 
crossed  the  big  river,2  fought  the  people  of  the  country, 
and  took  the  land;  and  mine  came  from  the  red  sky  of 
the  morning,  over  the  salt  lake,  and  did  their  work  much 
after  the  fashion  that  had  been  set  them  by  yours ;  then 
let  God  judge  the  matter  between  us,  and  friends  spare 
their  words !  " 

"  My  fathers  fought  with  the  naked  redmen ! "  re-* 
turned  the  Indian  sternly,  in  the  same  language.  "  Is 

1  The  rifle  of  the  army  is  short ;  that  of  the  hunter  is  always 
long. 

2  The  Mississippi.     The  scout  alludes  to  a  tradition  which  is 
very  popular  among  the  tribes  of  the  Atlantic  States.     Evidence 
of  their  Asiatic  origin  is  deduced  from  the  circumstances,  though 
great  uncertainty  hangs  over  the  whole  history  of  the  Indians. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  31 

there  no  difference,  Hawkeye,  between  the  stone-headed 
arrow  of  the  warrior,  and  the  leaden  bullet  with  which 
you  kill?" 

"  There  is  reason  in  an  Indian,  though  nature  has  made 
him  with  a  red  skin !  "  said  the  white  man,  shaking  his 
head  like  one  on  whom  such  an  appeal  to  his  justice  was 
not  thrown  away.  For  a  moment  he  appeared  to  be  con 
scious  of  having  the  worst  of  the  argument,  then,  rally 
ing  again,  he  answered  the  objection  of  his  antagonist 
in  the  best  manner  his  limited  information  would  allow : 
"  I  am  no  scholar,  and  I  care  not  who  knows  it ;  but 
judging  from  what  I  have  seen,  at  deer  chases  and  squir 
rel  hunts,  of  the  sparks  below,  I  should  think  a  rifle  in 
the  hands  of  their  grandfathers  was  not  so  dangerous  as 
a  hickory  bow  and  a  good  flint-head  might  be,  if  drawn 
with  Indian  judgment,  and  sent  by  an  Indian  eye." 

"  You  have  the  story  told  by  your  fathers,"  returned 
the  other,  coldly  waving  his  hand.  "  What  say  your  iDld 
men?  do  they  tell  the  young  warriors,  that  the  pale-faces 
met  the  redmen,  painted  for  war  and  armed  with  the 
stone  hatchet  and  wooden  gun  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  a  prejudiced  man,  nor  one  who  vaunts  him 
self  on  his  natural  privileges,  though  the  worst  enemy 
I  have  on  earth,  and  he  is  an  Iroquois,  daren't  deny  that 
I  am  genuine  white,"  the  scout  replied,  surveying,  with 
secret  satisfaction,  the  faded  color  of  his  bony  and  sinewy 
hand ;  "  and  I  am  willing  to  own  that  my  people  have 
many  ways,  of  which,  as  an  honest  man,  I  can't  approve. 
It  is  one  of  their  customs  to  write  in  books  what  they 
have  done  and  seen,  instead  of  telling  them  in  their  vil 
lages,  where  the  lie  can  be  given  to  the  face  of  a  cowardly 
boaster,  and  the  brave  soldier  can  call  on  his  comrades 
to  witness  for  the  truth  of  his  words.  In  consequence  of 


32  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

this  bad  fashion,  a  man  who  is  too  conscientious  to  mis 
spend  his  days  among  the  women,  in  learning  the  names 
of  black  marks,  may  never  hear  of  the  deeds  of  his 
fathers,  nor  feel  a  pride  in  striving  to  outdo  them.  For 
myself,  I  conclude  the  Bumppos  could  shoot,  for  I  have 
a  natural  turn  with  a  rifle,  which  must  have  been  handed 
down  from  generation  to  generation,  as,  our  holy  com 
mandments  tell  us,  all  good  and  evil  gifts  are  bestowed; 
though  I  should  be  loth  to  answer  for  other  people  in 
such  a  matter.  But  every  story  has  its  two  sides;  so 
I  ask  you,  Chingachgook,  what  passed,  according  to  the 
traditions  of  the  redmen,  when  our  fathers  first  met  ?  " 

A  silence  of  a  minute  succeeded,  during  which  the 
Indian  sat  mute;  then,  full  of  the  dignity  of  his  office, 
he  commenced  his  brief  tale,  with  a  solemnity  that  served 
to  heighten  its  appearance  of  truth. 

"  Listen,  Hawkeye,  and  your  ear  shall  drink  no  lie. 
'Ti§  what  my  fathers  have  said,  and  what  the  Mohicans 
have  done."  He  hesitated  a  single  instant,  and  bending 
a  cautious  glance  toward  his  companion,  he  continued, 
in  a  manner  that  was  divided  between  interrogation 
and  assertion,  "  Does  not  this  stream  at  our  feet  run 
towards  the  summer,  until  its  waters  grow  salt,  and  the 
current  flows  upward?" 

"  It  can't  be  denied  that  your  traditions  tell  you  true 
in  both  these  matters,"  said  the  white  man ;  u  for  I  have 
been  there,  and  have  seen  them;  though,  why  water, 
which  is  so  sweet  in  the  shade,  should  become  bitter  in 
the  sun,  is  an  alteration  for  which  I  have  never  been  able 
to  account." 

"  And  the  current !  "  demanded  the  Indian,  who  ex 
pected  his  reply  with  that  sort  of  interest  that  a  man 
feels  in  the  confirmation  of  testimony,  at  which  he  mar- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  33 

vels  even  while  he  respects  it;  "  the  fathers  of  Chingach- 
gook  have  not  lied !  " 

"  The  Holy  Bible  is  not  more  true,  and  that  is  the 
truest  thing  in  nature.  They  call  this  up-stream  current 
the  tide,  which  is  a  thing  soon  explained,  and  clear 
enough.  Six  hours  the  waters  run  in,  and  six  hours  they 
run  out,  and  the  reason  is  this:  when  there  is  higher 
water  in  the  sea  than  in  the  river,  they  run  in,  until  the 
river  gets  to  be  highest,  and  then  it  runs  out  again." 

''  The  waters  in  the  woods,  and  on  the  great  lakes,  run 
downward  until  they  lie  like  my  hand,"  said  the  Indian, 
stretching  the  limb  horizontally  before  him,  "  and  then 
they  run  no  more." 

"  No  honest  man  will  deny  it,"  said  the  scout,  a  little 
nettled  at  the  implied  distrust  of  his  explanation  of  the 
mystery  of  the  tides ;  "  and  I  grant  that  it  is  true  on  the 
small  scale,  and  where  the  land  is  level.  But  everything 
depends  on  what  scale  you  look  at  things.  Now,  on  the 
small  scale,  the  'arth  is  level ;  but  on  the  large  scale  it 
is  round.  In  this  manner,  pools  and  ponds,  and  even 
the  great  fresh-water  lake,  may  be  stagnant,  as  you  and 
I  both  know  they  are,  having  seen  them;  but  when  you 
come  to  spread  water  over  a  great  tract,  like  the  sea, 
where  the  earth  is  round,  how  in  reason  can  the  water 
be  quiet?  You  might  as  well  expect  the  river  to  lie  still 
on  the  brink  of  those  black  rocks  a  mile  above  us,  though 
your  own  ears  tell  you  that  it  is  tumbling  over  them 
at  this  very  moment !  " 

If  unsatisfied  by  the  philosophy  of  his  companion,  the 
Indian  was  far  too  dignified  to  betray  his  unbelief.  He 
listened  like  one  who  was  'convinced,  and  resumed  his 
narrative  in  his  former  solemn  manner. 

"  We  came  from  the  place  where  the  sun  is  hid  at 


34  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

night,  over  great  plains  where  the  buffaloes  live,  until 
we  reached  the  big  river.  There  we  fought  the  Alligewi, 
till  the  ground  was  red  with  their  blood.  From  the  banks 
of  the  big  river  to  the  shores  of  the  salt  lake,  there  was 
none  to  meet  us.  The  Maquas  followed  at  a  distance. 
We  said  the  country  should  be  ours  from  the  place  where 
the  water  runs  up  no  longer  on  this  stream,  to  a  river 
twenty  suns'  journey  toward  the  summer.  The  land  we 
had  taken  like  warriors,  we  kept  like  men.  We  drove 
the  Maquas  into  the  woods  with  the  bears.  They  only 
tasted  salt  at  the  licks ;  they  drew  no  fish  from  the  great 
lake;  we  threw  them  the  bones." 

"  All  this  I  have  heard  and  believe/'  said  the  white 
man,  observing  that  the  Indian  paused :  "  but  it  was  long 
before  the  English  came  into  the  country." 

"  A  pine  grew  then  where  this  chestnut  now  stands. 
The  first  pale- faces  who  came  among  us  spoke  no  Eng 
lish.  They  came  in  a  large  canoe,  when  my  fathers  had 
buried  the  tomahawk  with  the  redmen  around  them. 
Then,  Hawkeye,"  he  continued,  betraying  his  deep  emo 
tion  only  by  permitting  his  voice  to  fall  to  those  low, 
guttural  tones,  which  rendered  his  language,  as  spoken 
at  times,  so  very  musical ;  "  then,  Hawkeye,  we  were  one 
people,  and  we  were  happy.  The  salt  lake  gave  us  its 
fish,  the  wood  its  deer,  and  the  air  its  birds.  We  took 
wives  who  bore  us  children;  we  worshiped  the  Great 
Spirit;  and  we  kept  the  Maquas  beyond  the  sound  of 
our  songs  of  triumph !  " 

"  Know  you  anything  of  your  own  family  at  that 
time?"  demanded  the  white.  "  But  you  are  a  just  man, 
for  an  Indian!  and,  as  I  suppose  you  hold  their  gifts, 
your  fathers  must  have  been  brave  warriors,  and  wise 
men  at  the  council  fire." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  35 

"  My  tribe  is  the  grandfather  of  nations,  but  I  am  an 
unmixed  man.  The  blood  of  chiefs  is  in  my  veins,  where 
it  must  stay  forever.  The  Dutch  landed,  and  gave  my 
people  the  fire-water;  they  drank  until  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  seemed 'to  meet,  and  they  foolishly  thought  they 
had  found  the  Great  Spirit.  Then  they  parted  with  their 
land.  Foot  by  foot,  they  were  driven  back  from  the 
shores,  until  I,  that  am  a  chief  and  a  sagamore,  have 
never  seen  the  sun  shine  but  through  the  trees,  and  have 
never  visited  the  graves  of  my  fathers !  " 

'"  Graves  bring  solemn  feelings  over  the  mind/'  re 
turned  the  scout,  a  good  deal  touched  at  the  calm  suffer 
ing  of  his  companion ;  "  and  they  often  aid  a  man  in  his 
good  intentions;  though,  for  myself,  I  expect  to  leave 
my  own  bones  unburied,  to  bleach  in  the  woods,  or  to 
be  torn  asunder  by  the  wolves.  But  where  are  to  be 
found  those  of  your  race  who  came  to  their  kin  in  the 
Delaware  country,  so  many  summers  since  ?  " 

"Where  are  the  blossoms  of  those  summers! — fallen, 
one  by  one :  so  all  of  my  family  departed,  each  in  his 
turn,  to  the  land  of  spirits.  I  am  on  the  hill-top,  and 
must  go  down  into  the  valley;  and  when  Uncas  follows 
in  my  footsteps,  there  will  no  longer  be  any  of  the  blood 
of  the  sagamores,  for  my  boy  is  the  last  of  the 
JVIohicans." 

"  Uncas  is  here !  "  said  another  voice,  in  the  same  soft, 
guttural  tones,  near  his  elbow ;  "  who  speaks  to  Uncas  ?  " 

The  white  man  loosened  his  knife  in  his  leathern 
sheath,  and  made  an-  involuntary  movement  of  the  hand 
towards  his  rifle,  at  this  sudden  interruption;  but  the 
Indian  sat  composed,  and  without  turning  his  head  at 
the  unexpected  sounds. 

At  the  next  instant,  a  youthful  warrior  passed  between 


36  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

them,  with  a  noiseless  step,  and  seated  himself  on  the 
bank  of  the  rapid  stream.  No  exclamation  of  surprise 
escaped  the  father,  nor  was  any  question  asked,  or  reply 
given,  for  several  minutes;  each  appearing  to  await  the 
moment  when  he  might  speak,  without  betraying  woman- 
,  ish  curiosity  or  childish  impatience.  The  white  man 
I  seemed  to  take  counsel  from  their  customs,  and,  relin 
quishing  his  grasp  of  the  rifle,  he  also  remained  silent 
and  reserved.  At  length  Chingachgook  turned  his  eyes 
slowly  towards  his  son,  and  demanded, — 

"  Do  the  Maquas  dare  to  leave  the  print  of  their  moc 
casins  in  these  woods  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  on  their  trail,"  replied  the  young  Indian, 
"  and  know  that  they  number  as  many  as  the  fingers  of 
my  two  hands ;  but  they  lie  hid,  like  cowards." 

'  The  thieves  are  out-lying  for  scalps  and  plunder !  " 
said  the  white  man,  whom  we  shall  call  Hawkeye,  after 
the  manner  of  his  companions.  '  That  bushy  French 
man,  Montcalm,  will  send  his  spies  into  our  very  camp, 
but  he  will  know  what  road  we  travel !  " 

Tis  enough !  "  returned  the  father,  glancing  his  eye 
towards  the  setting  sun ;  "  they  shall  be  driven  like  deer 
from  their  bushes.  Hawkeye,  let  us  eat  to-night,  and 
show  the  Maquas  that  we  are  men  to-morrow." 

"I  am  as  ready  to  do  the  one  as  the  other;  but  to 
fight  the  Iroquois  'tis  necessary  to  find  the  skulkers ;  and 
to  eat,  'tis  necessary  to  get  the  game — talk  of  the  devil 
and  he  will  come;  there  is  a  pair  of  the  biggest  antlers 
I  have  seen  this  season,  moving  the  bushes  below  the 
hill!  Now,  Uncas,"  he  continued  in  a  half-whisper,  and 
laughing  with  a  kind  of  inward  sound,  like  one  who  had 
learnt  to  be  watchful,  "  I  will  bet  my  charger  three  times 
full  of  powder,  against  a  foot  of  wampum,  that  I  take 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  37 

him  atwixt  the  eyes,  and  nearer  to  the  right  than  to 
the  left." 

"  It  cannot  be !  "  said  the  young  Indian,  springing  to 
his  feet  with  youthful  eagerness ;  "  all  but  the  tips  of  his 
horns  are  hid ! " 

"  He's  a  boy !  "  said  the  white  man,  shaking  his  head 
while  he  spoke,  and  addressing  the  father.  "  Does  he 
think  when  a  hunter  sees  a  part  of  the  creatur',  he  can't 
tell  where  the  rest  of  him  should  be !  " 

Adjusting  his  rifle,  he  was  about  to  make  an  exhibition 
of  that  skill,  on  which  he  so  much  valued  himself,  when 
the  warrior  struck  up  the  piece  with  his  hand,  saying, — 

"  Hawkeye !  will  you  fight  the  Maquas  ?  " 

"  These  Indians  know  the  nature  of  the  woods,  as  it 
might  be  by  instinct !  "  returned  the  scout,  dropping  his 
rifle,  and  turning  away  like  a  man  who  was  convinced 
of  his  error.  "  I  must  leave  the  buck  to  your  arrow, 
Uncas,  or  we  may  kill  a  deer  for  them  thieves,  the  Iro- 
quois,  to  eat." 

The  instant  the  father  seconded  this  intimation  by  an 
expressive  gesture  of  the  hand,  Uncas  threw  himself  on 
the  ground,  and  approached  the  animal  with  wary  move 
ments.  When  within  a  few  yards  of  the  cover,  he  fitted 
an  arrow  to  his  bow  with  the  utmost  care,  while  the  ant 
lers  moved,  as  if  their  owner  snuffed  an  enemy  in  the 
tainted  air.  In  another  moment  the  twang  of  the  cord 
was  heard,  a  white  streak  was  seen  glancing  into  the 
bushes,  and  the  wounded  buck  plunged  from  the  cover, 
to  the  very  feet  of  his  hidden  enemy.  Avoiding  the  horns 
of  the  infuriated  animal,  Uncas  darted  to  his  side,  and 
passed  his  knife  across  the  throat,  when  bounding  to  the 
edge  of  the  river  it  fell,  dyeing  the  waters  with  its  blood. 
Twas  done  with  Indian  skill,"  said  the  scout,  laugh- 


38  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

ing  inwardly,  but  with  vast  satisfaction ;  "  and  'twas  a 
pretty  sight  to  behold !  Though  an  arrow  is  a  near  shot, 
and  needs  a  knife  to  finish  the  work." 

"Hugh!"  ejaculated  his  companion,  turning  quickly, 
like  a  hound  who  scented  game. 

"  By  the  Lord,  there  is  a  drove  of  them !  "  exclaimed 
the  scout,  whose  eyes  began  to  glisten  with  the  ardor  of 
his  usual  occupation ;  "  if  they  come  within  range  of  a 
bullet  I  will  drop  one,  though  the  whole  Six  Nations 
should  be  lurking  within  sound!  What  do  you  hear, 
Chingachgook  ?  for  to  my  ears  the  woods  are  dumb." 

"  There  is  but  one  deer,  and  he  is  dead/'  said  the  In 
dian,  bending  his  body  till  his  ear  nearly  touched  the 
earth.  "I  hear  the  sounds  of  feet!" 

"  Perhaps  the  wolves  have  driven  the  buck  to  shelter, 
and  are  following  on  his  trail." 

"  No.  The  horses  of  white  men  are  coming !  "  re 
turned  the  other,  raising  himself  with  dignity,  and  re 
suming  his  seat  on  the  log  with  his  former  composure. 
"  Hawkeye,  they  are  your  brothers ;  speak  to  them." 

"  That  will  I,  and  in  English  that  the  king  needn't  be 
ashamed  to  answer,"  returned  the  hunter,  speaking  in 
the  language  of  which  he  boasted ;  "  but  I  see  nothing, 
nor  do  I  hear  the  sounds  of  man  or  beast;  'tis  strange 
that  an  Indian  should  understand  white  sounds  better 
than  a  man  who,  his  very  enemies  will  own,  has  no  cross 
in  his  blood,  although  he  may  have  lived  with  the  red 
skins  long  enough  to  be  suspected !  Ha !  there  goes 
something  like  the  cracking  of  a  dry  stick,  too — now  I 
hear  the  bushes  move — yes,  yes,  there  is  a  trampling  that 
I  mistook  for  the  falls — and — but  here  they  come  them 
selves;  God  keep  them  from  the  Iroquoisl" 


CHAPTER 

IV.  -&    &    & 


"  Well,  go  thy  way :  thou  shalt  not  from  this  grove 
Till  I  torment  thee  for  this  injury." 

Midsummer  Night's  Dream. 

THE  words  were  still  in  the  mouth  of  the  scout, 
when  the  leader  of  the  party,  whose  approaching 
footsteps  had  caught  the  vigilant  ear  of  the  Indian,  came 
openly  into  view.  A  beaten  path,  such  as  those  made 
by  the  periodical  passage  of  the  deer,  wound  through 
a  little  glen  at  no  great  distance,  and  struck  the  river 
at  the  point  where  the  white  man  and  his  red  companions 
had  posted  themselves.  Along  this  track  the  travelers, 
who  had  produced  a  surprise  so  unusual  in  the  depths 
of  the  forest,  advanced  slowly  towards  the  hunter,  who 
was  in  front  of  his  associates,  in  readiness  to  receive 
them. 

"  Who  comes  ? "  demanded  the  scout,  throwing  his 
rifle  carelessly  across  his  left  arm,  and  keeping  the  fore 
finger  of  his  right  hand  on  the  trigger,  though  he  avoided 
all  appearance  of  menace  in  the  act,  "  Who  comes  hither, 
among  the  beasts  and  dangers  of  tne  wilderness  ?  " 

"  Believers  in  religion,  and  friends  to  the  law  and  to 
the  king,"  returned  he  who  rode  foremost.  "  Men  who 

39 


40  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

have  journeyed  since  the  rising  sun,  in  the  shades  of 
this  forest,  without  nourishment,  and  are  sadly  tired  of 
their  wayfaring." 

"  You  are,  then,  lost,"  interrupted  the  hunter,  "  and 
have  found  how  helpless  'tis  not  to  know  whether  to 
take  the  right  hand  or  the  left?" 

"  Even  so ;  sucking  babes  are  not  more  dependent  on 
those  who  guide  them  than  we  who  are  of  larger  growth, 
and  who  may  now  be  said  to  possess  the  stature  without 
the  knowledge  of  men.  Know  you  the  distance  to  a  post 
of  the  crown  called  William  Henry  ?  " 

"  Hoot !  "  shouted  the  scout,  who  did  not  spare  his 
open  laughter,  though,  instantly  checking  the  dangerous 
sounds,  he  indulged  his  merriment  at  less  risk  of  being 
overheard  by  any  lurking  enemies.  "  You  are  as  much 
off  the  scent  as  a  hound  would  be,  with  Horican  atwixt 
him  and  the  deer !  William  Henry,  man !  if  you  are 
friends  to  the  king,  and  have  business  with  the  army, 
your  better  way  would  be  to  follow  the  river  down  to 
Edward,  and  lay  the  matter  before  Webb;  who  tarries 
there,  instead  of  pushing  into  the  denies  and  driving 
this  saucy  Frenchman  back  across  Champlain,  into  his 
den  again." 

Before  the  stranger  could  make  any  reply  to  this  unex 
pected  proposition,  another  horseman  dashed  the  bushes 
aside,  and  leaped  his  charger  into  the  pathway,  in  front 
of  his  companion. 

"  What,  then,  may  be  our  distance  from  Fort  Ed 
ward  ?  "  demanded  a  new  speaker ;  "  the  place  you  advise 
us  to  seek  we  left  this  morning,  and  our  destination  is 
the  head  of  the  lake.'r 

"  Then  you  must  have  lost  your  eyesight  afore  losing 
your  way,  for  the  road  across  the  portage  is  cut  to  a  good 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  41 

two  rods,  and  is  as  grand  a  path,  I  calculate,  as  any  that 
runs  into  London,  or  even  before  the  palace  of  the  king 
himself." 

"  We  will  not  dispute  concerning  the  excellence  of  the 
passage,"  returned  Heyward,  smiling;  for,  as  the  reader 
has  anticipated,  it  was  he.  "  It  is  enough,  for  the  pres 
ent,  that  we  trusted  to  an  Indian  guide  to  take  us  by  a 
nearer,  though  blinder  path,  and  that  we  are  deceived  in 
his  knowledge.  In  plain  words,  we  know  not  where 
we  are." 

"  An  Indian  lost  in  the  woods !  "  said  the  scout,  shak 
ing  his  head  doubtingly ;  "  when  the  sun  is  scorching  the 
tree-tops,  and  the  water-courses  are  full;  when  the  moss 
on  every  beech  he  sees,  will  tell  him  in  which  quarter 
the  north  star  will  shine  at  night !  The  woods  are  full 
of  deer  paths  which  run  to  the  streams  and  licks,  places 
well  known  to  everybody;  nor  have  the  geese  done  their 
flight  to  the  Canada  waters  altogether !  Tis  strange  that 
an  Indian  should  be  lost  atwixt  Horican  and  the  bend 
in  the  river.  Is  he  a  Mohawk?" 

"  Not  by  birth,  though  adopted  in  that  tribe ;  I  think 
his  birthplace  was  farther  north,  and  he  is  one  of  those 
you  call  a  Huron." 

"  Hugh !  "  exclaimed  the  two  companions  of  the  scout, 
who  had  continued,  until  this  part  of  the  dialogue,  seated 
immovable,  and  apparently  indifferent  to  what  passed, 
but  who  now  sprang  to  their  feet  with  an  activity  and 
interest  that  had  evidently  got  the  better  of  their  reserve, 
by  surprise. 

"  A  Huron !  "  repeated  the  sturdy  scout,  once  more 
shaking  his  head  in  open  distrust ;  "  they  are  a  thievish 
race,  nor  do  I  care  by  whom  they  are  adopted;  you  can 
never  make  anything  of  them  but  skulks  and  vagabonds. 


42  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Since  you  trusted  yourself  to  the  care  of  one  of  that 
nation,  I  only  wonder  that  you  have  not  fallen  in  with 
more." 

"  Of  that  there  is  little  danger,  since  William  Henry 
is  so  many  miles  in  our  front.  You  forget  that  I  have 
told  you  our  guide  is  now  a  Mohawk,  and  that  he  serves 
with  our  forces  as  a  friend." 

"  And  I  tell  you  that  he  who  is  born  a  Mingo  will  die 
a  Mingo,"  returned  the  other,  positively.  "  A  Mohawk ! 
No,  give  me  a  Delaware  or  a  Mohican  for  honesty;  and 
when  they  will  fight,  which  they  won't  all  do,  having  suf 
fered  their  cunning  enemies,  the  Maquas,  to  make  them 
women, — but  when  they  will  fight  at  all,  look  to  a  Dela 
ware,  or  a  Mohican,  for  a  warrior !  " 

"  Enough  of  this,"  said  Heyward,  impatiently ;  "  I 
wish  not  to  inquire  into  the  character  of  a  man  that  I 
know,  and  to  whom  you  must  be  a  stranger.  You  have 
not  yet  answered  my  question ;  what  is  our  distance  from 
the  main  army  at  Edward  ? " 

"  It  seems  that  may  depend  on  who  is  your  guide. 
One  would  think  such  a  horse  as  that  might  get 
over  a  good  deal  of  ground  atwixt  sun-up  and  sun 
down." 

"  I  wish  no  contention  of  idle  words  with  you,  friend," 
said  Heyward,  curbing  his  dissatisfied  manner,  and 
speaking  in  a  more  gentle  voice;  "if  you  will  tell  me 
the  distance  to  Fort  Edward,  and  conduct  me  thither, 
your  labor  shall  not  go  without  its  reward." 

"  And  in  so  doing,  how  know  I  that  I  don't  guide  an 
enemy,  and  a  spy  of  Montcalm,  to  the  works  of  the 
army?  It  is  not  every  man  who  can  speak  the  English 
tongue  that  is  an  honest  subject." 

"  If  you  serve  with  the  troops,  of  whom  I  judge  you 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  43 

to  be  a  scout,  you  should  know  of  such  a  regiment  of 
the  king  as  the  6oth." 

"  The  6oth !  you  can  tell  me  little  of  the  Royal  Ameri 
cans  that  I  don't  know,  though  I  do  wear  a  hunting-shirt 
instead  of  a  scarlet  jacket." 

"  Well,  then,  among  the  other  things,  you  may  know 
the  name  of  its  major?" 

"  Its  major !  "  interrupted  the  hunter,  elevating  his 
body  like  one  who  was  proud  of  his  trust.  "  If  there  is 
a  man  in  the  country  who  knows  Major  Effingham,  he 
stands  before  you." 

"  It  is  a  corps  which  has  many  majors ;  the  gentleman 
you  name  is  the  senior,  but  I  speak  of  the  junior  of 
them  all ;  he  who  commands  the  companies  in  garrison  at 
William  Henry." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  have  heard  that  a  young  gentleman  of 
vast  riches,  from  one  of  the  provinces  far  south,  has  got 
the  place.  He  is  over  young,  too,  to  hold  such  rank, 
and  to  be  put  above  men  whose  heads  are  beginning  to 
bleach ;  and  yet  they  say  he  is  a  soldier  in  his  knowledge, 
and  a  gallant  gentleman !  " 

"  Whatever  he  may  be,  or  however  he  may  be  quali 
fied  for  his  rank,  he  now  speaks  to  you,  and  of  course 
can  be  no  enemy  to  dread." 

The  scout  regarded  Heyward  in  surprise,  and  then 
lifting  his  cap,  he  answered,  in  a  tone  less  confident  than 
before,  though  still  expressing  doubt, — 

"  I  have  heard  a  party  was  to  leave  the  encampment 
this  morning,  for  the  lake  shore?" 

"  You  have  heard  the  truth ;  but  I  preferred  a  nearer 
route,  trusting  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Indian  I  men 
tioned." 

"  And  he  deceived  you,  and  then  deserted  ?  " 


44  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Neither,  as  I  believe ;  certainly  not  the  latter,  for  he 
is  to  be  found  in  the  rear." 

"  I  should  like  to  look  at  the  creatur' ;  if  it  is  a  true 
Iroquois  I  can  tell  him  by  his  knavish  look,  and  by  his 
paint,"  said  the  scout,  stepping  past  the  charger  of  Hey- 
ward,  and  entering  the  path  behind  the  mare  of  the 
singing-master,  whose  foal  had  taken  advantage  of  the 
halt  to  exact  the  maternal  contribution.  After  shoving 
aside  the  bushes,  and  proceeding  a  few  paces,  he  en 
countered  the  females,  who  awaited  the  result  of  the 
conference  with  anxiety,  and  not  entirely  without  appre 
hension.  Behind  these,  the  runner  leaned  against  a  tree> 
where  he  stood  the  close  examination  of  the  scout  with 
an  air  unmoved,  though  with  a  look  so  dark  and  sav 
age,  that  it  might  in  itself  excite  fear.  Satisfied  with 
his  scrutiny,  the  hunter  soon  left  him.  As  he  repassed 
the  females,  he  paused  a  moment  to  gaze  upon  their 
beauty,  answering  to  the  smile  and  nod  of  Alice  with 
a  look  of  open  pleasure.  Thence  he  went  to  the  side 
of  the  motherly  animal,  and  spending  a  minute  in  a 
fruitless  inquiry  into  the  character  of  her  rider,  he  shook 
his  head  and  returned  to  Heyward. 

"  A  Mingo  is  a  Mingo,  and  God  having  made  him  so, 
neither  the  Mohawks  nor  any  other  tribe  can  alter  him," 
he  said,  when  he  had  regained  his  former  position.  "  If 
we  were  alone,  and  you  would  leave  that  noble  horse  at 
the  mercy  of  the  wolves  to-night,  I  could  show  you  the 
way  to  Edward,  myself,  within  an  hour,  for  it  lies  only 
about  an  hour's  journey  hence;  but  with  such  ladies  in 
your  company  'tis  impossible !  " 

"  And  why  ?  they  are  fatigued,  but  they  are  quite  equal 
to  a  ride  of  a  few  more  miles." 

"  Tis   a   natural   impossibility !  "   repeated   the   scout ; 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  45 

"  I  wouldn't  walk  a  mile  in  these  woods  after  night 
gets  into  them,  in  company  with  that  runner,  for  the  best 
rifle  in  the  colonies.  They  are  full  of  outlying  Iroquois, 
and  your  mongrel  Mohawk  knows  where  to  find  them 
too  well,  to  be  my  companion." 

"  Think  you  so  ?  "  said  Heyward,  leaning  forward  in 
the  saddle,  and  dropping  his  voice  nearly  to  a  whisper; 
"  I  confess  I  have  not  been  without  my  own  suspicions, 
though  I  have  endeavored  to  conceal  them,  and  affected 
a  confidence  I  have  not  always  felt,  on  account  of  my 
companions.  It  was  because  I  suspected  him  that  I 
would  follow  no  longer;  making  him,  as  you  see,  fol 
low  me." 

"  I  knew  he  was  one  of  the  cheats  as  soon  as  I  laid 
eyes  on  him !  "  returned  the  scout,  placing  a  finger  on 
his  nose,  in  sign  of  caution.  '  The  thief  is  leaning 
against  the  foot  of  the  sugar  sapling,  that  you  can  see 
over  them  bushes;  his  right  leg  is  in  a  line  with  the 
bark  of  the  tree,  and,"  tapping  his  rifle,  "  I  can  take 
him  from  where  I  stand,  between  the  ankle  and  the  knee, 
with  a  single  shot,  putting  an  end  to  his  tramping 
through  the  woods,  for  at  -least  a  month  to  come.  If  I 
should  go  back  to  him,  the  cunning  varmint  would  sus 
pect  something,  and  be  dodging  through  the  trees  like 
a  frightened  deer." 

"  It  will  not  do.  He  may  be  innocent,  and  I  dislike 
the  act.  Though,  if  I  felt  confident  of  his  treachery— 

"  'Tis  a  safe  thing  to  calculate  on  the  knavery  of  an 
Iroquois,"  said  the  scout,  throwing  his  rifle  forward,  by 
a  sort  of  instinctive  movement. 

"  Hold !  "  interrupted  Heyward,  "  it  will  not  do — we 
must  think  of  some  other  scheme ;  and  yet,  I  have  much 
reason  to  believe  the  rascal  has  deceived  me." 


46  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

The  hunter,  who  had  already  abandoned  his  intention 
of  maiming  the  runner,  mused  a  moment,  and  then  made 
a  gesture,  which  instantly  brought  his  two  red  compan 
ions  to  his  side.  They  spoke  together  earnestly  in  the 
Delaware  language,  though  in  an  undertone;  and  by  the 
gestures  of  the  white  man,  which  were  frequently  di 
rected  towards  the  top  of  the  sapling,  it  was  evident 
he  pointed  out  the  situation  of  their  hidden  enemy.  His 
companions  were  not  long  in  comprehending  his  wishes, 
and  laying  aside  their  firearms,  they  parted,  taking  op 
posite  sides  of  the  path,  and  burying  themselves  in  the 
thicket,  with  such  cautious  movements,  that  their  steps 
were  inaudible. 

"  Now,  go  you  back,"  said  the  hunter,  speaking  again 
to  Heyward,  "  and  hold  the  imp  in  talk;  these  Mohicans 
here  will  take  him  without  breaking  his  paint." 

"  Nay,"  said  Heyward,  proudly,  "  I  will  seize  him 
myself." 

"  Hist !  what  could  you  do,  mounted,  against  an  In 
dian  in  the  bushes?" 

"I  will  dismount." 

"  And,  think  you,  when  he  saw  one  of  your  feet  out 
of  the  stirrup,  he  would  wait  for  the  other  to  be  free? 
Whoever  comes  into  the  woods  to  deal  with  the  natives, 
must  use  Indian  fashions,  if  he  would  wish  to  prosper 
in  his  undertakings.  Go,  then,  talk  openly  to  the  mis 
creant,  and  seem  to  believe  him  the  truest  friend  you 
have  on  'arth." 

Heyward  prepared  to  comply,  though  with  strong  dis 
gust  at  the  nature  of  the  office  he  was  compelled  to 
execute.  Each  moment,,  however,  pressed  upon  him  a 
conviction  of  the  critical  situation  in  which  he  had  suf 
fered  his  invaluable  trust  to  be  involved  through  his  own 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  47 

confidence.  The  sun  had  already  disappeared,  and  the 
woods,  suddenly  deprived  of  his  light,1  were  assuming  a 
dusky  hue,  which  keenly  reminded  him  that  the  hour  the 
savage  usually  chose  for  his  most  barbarous  and  re 
morseless  acts  of  vengeance  or  hostility,  was  speedily 
drawing  near.  Stimulated  by  apprehension,  he  left  the 
scout,  who  immediately  entered  into  a  loud  conversation 
with  the  stranger  that  had  so  unceremoniously  enlisted 
himself  in  the  party  of  travelers  that  morning.  In  pass 
ing  his  gentler  companions  Heyward  uttered  a  few  words 
of  encouragement,  and  was  pleased  to  find  that,  though 
fatigued  with  the  exercise  of  the  day,  they  appeared  to 
entertain  no  suspicion  that  their  present  embarrassment 
was  other  than  the  result  of  accident.  Giving  them  rea 
son  to  believe  he  was  merely  employed  in  a  consultation 
concerning  the  future  route,  he  spurred  his  charger,  and 
drew  the  reins  again,  when  the  animal  had  carried  him 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  place  where  the  sullen  runner 
still  stood,  leaning  against  the  tree. 

"  You  may  see,  Magua,"  he  said,  endeavoring  to  as 
sume  an  air  of  freedom  and  confidence,  "  that  the  night 
is  closing  around  us,  and  yet  we  are  no  nearer  to  William 
Henry  than  when  we  left  the  encampment  of  Webb  with 
the  rising  sun.  You  have  missed  the  way,  nor  have  I 
been  more  fortunate.  But,  happily,  we  have  fallen  in 
with  a  hunter,  he  whom  you  hear  talking  to  the  singer, 
that  is  acquainted  with  the  deer-paths  and  by-ways  of 
the  woods,  and  who  promises  to  lead  us  to  a  place  where 
we  may  rest  securely  till  the  morning." 

The  Indian  riveted  his  glowing  eyes  on  Heyward  as 
he  asked,  in  his  imperfect  English,  "Is  he  alone?" 

1  The  scene  of  this  tale  was  in  the  42nd  degree  of  latitude, 
where  the  twilight  is  never  of  long  continuance. 


4$  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Alone !  "  hesitatingly  answered  Heyward  to  whom 
deception  was  too  new  to  be  assumed  without  embar 
rassment.  "  Oh !  not  alone,  surely,  Magua,  for  you  know 
that  we  are  with  him." 

if  Then  Le  Renard  Subtil  will  go,"  returned  the  run 
ner,  coolly  raising  his  little  wallet  from  the  place  where 
it  had  lain  at  his  feet ;  "  and  the  pale-faces  will  see  none 
but  their  own  color." 

"  Go !     Whom  call  you  Le  Renard  ?  " 

'  Tis  the  name  his  Canada  fathers  have  given  to 
Magua,"  returned  the  runner,  with  an  air  that  mani 
fested  his  pride  at  the  distinction.  "  Night  is  the  same 
as  day  to  Le  Subtil,  when  Munro  waits  for  him." 

"  And  what  account  will  Le  Renard  give  the  chief  of 
William  Henry  concerning  his  daughters?  Will  he  dare 
to  tell  the  hot-blooded  Scotsman  that  his  children  are  left 
without  a  guide,  though  Magua  promised  to  be  one  ?  " 

;<  Though  the  gray  head  has  a  loud  voice,  and  a  long 
arm,  Le  Renard  will  not  hear  him,  or  feel  him,  in  the 
woods." 

"  But  what  will  the  Mohawks  say  ?  They  will  make 
him  petticoats,  and  bid  him  stay  in  the  wigwam  with 
the  women,  for  he  is  no  longer  to  be  trusted  with  the 
business  of  a  man." 

"  Le  Subtil  knows  the  path  to  the  great  lakes,  and 
he  can  find  the  bones  of  his  fathers/'  was  the  answer 
of  the  unmoved  runner. 

"  Enough,  Magua,"  said  Heyward ;  "  are  we  not 
friends?  Why  should  there  be  bitter  words  between  us? 
Munro  has  promised  you  a  gift  for  your  services  when 
performed,  and  I  shall  be  your  debtor  for  another.  Rest 
your  weary  limbs,  then,  and  open  your  wallet  to  eat. 
We  have  a  few  moments  to  spare ;  let  us  not  waste  them 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  49 

in  talk  like  wrangling  women.  When  the  ladies  are  re 
freshed  we  will  proceed." 

"  The  pale- faces  make  themselves  dogs  to  their 
women,"  muttered  the  Indian,  in  his  native  language, 
"  and  when  they  want  to  eat,  their  warriors  must  lay 
aside  the  tomahawk  to  feed  their  laziness." 

"  What  say  you,  Renard  ?  " 

"  Le  Subtil  says  it  is  good." 

The  Indian  then  fastened  his  eyes  keenly  on  the  open 
countenance  of  Heyward,  but  meeting  his  glance,  he 
turned  them  quickly  away,  and  seating  himself  deliber 
ately  on  the  ground,  he  drew  forth  the  remnant  of  some 
former  repast,  and  began  to  eat,  though  not  without 
first  bending  his  looks  slowly  and  cautiously  around  him. 

"  This  is  well/'  continued  Heyward ;  "  and  Le 
Renard  will  have  strength  and  sight  to  find  the  path 
in  the  morning ;"  he  paused,  for  sounds  like  the  snapping 
of  a  dried  stick,  and  the  rustling  of  leaves,  rose  from 
the  adjacent  bushes,  but  recollecting  himself  instantly, 
he  continued, — "  we  must  be  moving  before  the  sun  is 
seen,  or  Montcalm  may  lie  in  our  path,  and  shut  us  out 
from  the  fortress." 

The  hand  of  Magua  dropped  from  his  mouth  to  his 
side,  and  though  his  eyes  were  fastened  on  the  ground, 
his  head  was  turned  aside,  his  nostrils  expanded,  and  his 
ears  seemed  even  to  stand  more  erect  than  usual,  giving 
to  him  the  appearance  of  a  statue  that  was  made  to  rep 
resent  intense  attention. 

Heyward,  who  watched  his  movements  with  a  vigilant 
eye,  carelessly  extricated  one  of  his  feet  from  the  stir 
rup,  while  he  passed  a  hand  toward  the  bear-skin  cov 
ering  of  his  holsters.  Every  effort  to  detect  the  point 
most  regarded  by  the  runner  was  completely  frustrated 


50  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

by  the  tremulous  glances  of  his  organs,  which  seemed 
not  to  rest  a  single  instant  on  any  particular  object,  and 
which,  at  the  same  time,  could  be  hardly  said  to  move. 
While  he  hesitated  how  to  proceed,  Le  Subtil  cautiously 
raised  himself  to  his  feet,  though  with  a  motion  so  slow 
and  guarded,  that  not  the  slightest  noise  was  produced 
by  the  change.  Heyward  felt  it  had  now  become  in 
cumbent  on  him  to  act.  Throwing  his  leg  over  the  sad 
dle,  he  dismounted,  with  a  determination  to  advance  and 
seize  his  treacherous  companion,  trusting  the  result  to 
his  own  manhood.  In  order,  however,  to  prevent  unnec 
essary  alarm,  he  still  preserved  an  air  of  calmness  and 
friendship. 

"  Le  Renard  Subtil  does  not  eat/'  he  said,  using  the 
appellation  he  had  found  most  flattering  to  the  vanity 
of  the  Indian.  "  His  corn  is  not  well  parched,  and  it 
seems  dry.  Let  me  examine;  perhaps  something  may 
be  found  among  my  own  provisions  that  will  help  his 
appetite." 

Magua  held  out  the  wallet  to  the  proffer  of  the  other. 
He  even  suffered  their  hands  to  meet,  without  betraying 
the  least  emotion,  or  varying  his  riveted  attitude  of  at 
tention.  But  when  he  felt  the  fingers  of  Heyward  moving 
gently  along  his  own  naked  arm,  he  struck  up  the  limb 
of  the  young  man,  and  uttering  a  piercing  cry  as  he  darted 
beneath  it,  plunged,  at  a  single  bound,  into  the  opposite 
thicket.  At  the  next  instant  the  form  of  Chmgadagook 
appeared  from  the  bushes,  looking  like  a  specter  in  its 
paint,  and  glided  across  the  path  in  swift  pursuit.  Next 
followed  the  shout  of  Uncas,  when  the  woods  were 
lighted  by  a  sudden  flash,  that  was  accompanied  by  the 
sharp  report  of  the  hunter's  rifle. 


CHAPTER 

V.    £ 


"  In  such  a  night 

Did  Thisbe  fearfully  o'ertrip  the  dew; 
And  saw  the  lion's  shadow  ere  himself." 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

THE  suddenness  of  the  flight  of  his  guide,  and  the 
wild  cries  of  the  pursuers,  caused  Heyward  to 
remain  fixed,  for  a  few  moments,  in  inactive  surprise. 
Then  recollecting  the  importance  of  securing  the  fugi 
tive,  he  dashed  aside  the  surrounding  bushes,  and  pressed 
eagerly  forward  to  lend  his  aid  in  the  chase.  Before 
he  had,  however,  proceeded  a  hundred  yards,  he  met  the 
three  foresters  already  returning  from  their  unsuccessful 
pursuit. 

"  Why  so  soon  disheartened !  "  he  exclaimed ;  "  the 
scoundrel  must  be  concealed  behind  some  of  these  trees, 
and  may  yet  be  secured.  We  are  not  safe  while  he  goes 
at  large."  , 

"  Would  you  set  a  cloud  to  chase  the  wind  ? "  re 
turned  the  disappointed  scout ;  "  I  heard  the  imp,  brush 
ing  over  the  dry  leaves,  like  a  black  snake,  and  blinking 
a  glimpse  of  him,  just  over  ag'in  yon  big  pine,  I  pulled 
aj  it  might  be  on  the  scent;  but  'twouldn't  do!  and  yet 

51 


52  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

for  a  reasoning  aim,  if  anybody  but  myself  had  touched 
the  trigger,  I  should  call  it  a  quick  sight;  and  I  may  be 
accounted  to  have  experience  in  these  matters,  and  one 
who  ought  to  know.  Look  at  this  sumach;  its  leaves 
are  red,  though  everybody  knows  the  fruit  is  in  the  yel 
low  blossom,  in  the  month  of  July!" 

;  'Tis  the  blood  of  Le  Subtil !  he  is  hurt,  and  may  yet 
fall !  " 

"  No,  no/'  returned  the  scout,  in  decided  disapproba 
tion  of  this  opinion,  "  I  rubbed  the  bark  off  a  limb,  per 
haps,  but  the  creature  leaped  the  longer  for  it.  A  rifle- 
bullet  acts  on  a  running  animal,  when  it  barks  him,  much 
the  same  as  one  of  your  spurs  on  a  horse;  that  is,  it 
quickens  motion,  and  puts  life  into  the  flesh,  instead  of 
taking  it  away.  But  when  it  cuts  the  ragged  hole,  after 
4.  bound  or  two,  there  is,  commonly,  a  stagnation  of 
further  leaping,  be  it  Indian  or  be  it  deer !  " 

"  We  are  four  able  bodies,  to  one  wounded  man !  " 

"Is  life  grievous  to  you?"  interrupted  the  scout. 
"  Yonder  red  devil  would  draw  you  within  swing  of 
the  tomahawks  of  his  comrades,  before  you  were  heated 
in  the  chase.  It  was  an  unthoughtful  act  in  a  man  who 
has  so  often  slept  with  the  war-whoop  ringing  in  the 
air,  to  let  off  his  piece  within  sound  of  an  ambushment! 
But  then  it  was  a  natural  temptation !  'twas  very  natural ! 
Come,  friends,  let  us  move  our  station,  and  in  such  a 
fashion,  too,  as  will  throw  the  cunning  of  a  Mingo  on 
a  wrong  scent,  or  our  scalps  will  be  drying  in  the  wind 
in  front  of  Montcalm's  marquee,  ag'in  this  hour 
to-morrow." 

This  appalling  declaration,  which  the  scout  uttered 
with  the  cool  assurance  of  a  man  who  fully  compre 
hended,  while  he  did  not  fear  to  face  the  danger,  served 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  53 

to  remind  Heyward  of  the  importance  of  the  charge 
with  which  he  himself  had  been  intrusted.  Glancing 
his  eyes  around,  with  a  vain  effort  to  pierce  the  gloom 
that  was  thickening  beneath  the  leafy  arches  of  the  for 
est,  he  felt  as  if,  cut  off  from  human  aid,  his  unresisting 
companions  would  soon  lie  at  the  entire  mercy  of  those 
barbarous  enemies,  who,  like  beasts  of  prey,  only  waited 
till  the  gathering  darkness  might  render  their  blows  more 
fatally  certain.  His  awakened  imagination,  deluded  by 
the  deceptive  light,  converted  each  waving  bush,  or  the 
fragment  of  some  fallen  tree,  into  human  forms,  and 
twenty  times  he  fancied  he  could  distinguish  the  horrid 
visages  of  his  lurking  foes,  peering  from  their  hiding- 
places,  in  never-ceasing  watchfulness  of  the  movements 
of  his  party.  Looking  upward,  he  found  that  the  thin 
fleecy  clouds,  which  evening  had  painted  on  the  blue 
sky,  were  already  losing  their  faintest  tints  of  rose-color, 
while  the  imbedded  stream,  which  glided  past  the  spot 
where  he  stood,  was  to  be  traced  only  by  the  dark  bound 
ary  of  its  wooded  banks. 

"  What  is  to  be  done?  "  he  said,  feeling  the  utter  help 
lessness  of  doubt  in  such  a  pressing  strait ;  "  desert  me 
not,  for  God's  sake !  remain  to  defend  those  I  escort,  and 
freely  name  your  own  reward !  " 

His  companions,  who  conversed  apart  in  the  language 
of  their  tribe,  heeded  not  this  sudden  and  earnest  appeal. 
Though  their  dialogue  was  maintained  in  low  and  cau 
tious  sounds,  but  little  above  a  whisper,  Heyward,  who 
now  approached,  could  easily  distinguish  the  earnest 
tones  of  the  younger  warrior  from  the  more  deliberate 
speeches  of  his  seniors.  It  was  evident  that  they  de 
bated  on  the  propriety  of  some  measure  that  nearly  con 
cerned  the  welfare  of  the  travelers.  Yielding  to  his 


54  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

powerful  interest  in  the  subject,  and  impatient  of  a 
delay  that  seemed  fraught  with  so  much  additional  dan 
ger,  Heyward  drew  still  nigher  to  the  dusky  group,  with 
an  intention  of  making  his  offers  of  compensation  more 
definite,  when  the  white  man,  motioning,  with  his 
hand,  as  if  he  conceded  the  disputed  point,  turned 
away,  saying  in  a  sort  of  soliloquy,  and  in  the  English 
tongue, — 

"  Uncas  is  right !  it  would  not  be  the  act  of  men  to 
leave  such  harmless  things  to  their  fate,  even  though  it 
breaks  up  the  harboring  place  forever.  If  you  would 
save  these  tender  blossoms  from  the  fangs  of  the  worst 
of  sarpents,  gentleman,  you  have  neither  time  to  lose  nor 
resolution  to  throw  away !  " 

"  How  can  such  a  wish  be  doubted !  have  I  not  already 
offered—" 

"  Offer  your  prayers  to  Him  who  can  give  us  wisdom 
to  circumvent  the  cunning  of  the  devils  who  fill  these 
woods,"  calmly  interrupted  the  scout,  "  but  spare  your 
offers  of  money,  which  neither  you  may  live  to  realize, 
nor  I  to  profit  by.  These  Mohicans  and  I  will  do  what 
man's  thoughts  can  invent,  to  keep  such  flowers,  which, 
though  so  sweet,  were  never  made  for  the  wilderness, 
from  harm,  and  that  without  hope  of  any  other  recom 
pense  but  such  as  God  always  gives  to  upright  dealings. 
First,  you  must  promise  two  things,  both  in  your  own 
name  and  for  your  friends,  or  without  serving  you,  we 
shall  only  injure  ourselves!" 

"  Name  them." 

"  The  one  is,  to  be  still  as  these  sleeping  woods,  let 
what  will  happen;  and  the  other  is,  to  keep  the  place 
where  we  shall  take  you,  forever  a  secret  from  all  mor 
tal  men." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  55 

"  I  will  do  my  utmost  to  see  both  these  conditions 
fulfilled." 

"  Then  follow,  for  we  are  losing  moments  that  are  as 
precious  as  the  heart's  blood  to  a  stricken  deer !  " 

Heyward  could  distinguish  the  impatient  gesture  of 
the  scout,  through  the  increasing  shadows  of  the  even 
ing,  and  he  moved  in  his  footsteps,  swiftly,  towards  the 
place  where  he  had  left  the  remainder  of  his  party. 
When  they  rejoined  the  expecting  and  anxious  females, 
he  briefly  acquainted  them  with  the  conditions  of  their 
new  guide,  and  with  the  necessity  that  existed  for  their 
hushing  every  apprehension,  in  instant  and  serious  ex 
ertions.  Although  his  alarming  communication  was  not 
received  without  much  secret  terror  by  the  listeners,  his 
earnest  and  impressive  manner,  aided  perhaps  by  the 
nature  of  the  danger,  succeeded  in  bracing  their  nerves 
to  undergo  some  unlooked-for  and  unusual  trial.  Si 
lently,  and  without  a  moment's  delay,  they  permitted 
him  to  assist  them  from  their  saddles,  when  they 
descended  quickly  to  the  water's  edge,  where  the 
scout  had  collected  the  rest  of  the  party,  more  by  the 
agency  of  expressive  gestures  than  by  any  use  of 
words. 

"  What  to  do  with  these  dumb  creatures !  "  muttered 
the  white  man,  on  whom  the  sole  control  of  their  future 
movements  appeared  to  devolve ;  "  it  would  be  time  lost 
to  cut  their  throats,  and  cast  them  into  the  river;  and 
to  leave  them  here,  would  be  to  tell  the  Mingos  that 
they  have  not  far  to  seek  to  find  their  owners !  " 

"  Then  give  them  their  bridles,  and  let  them  range 
the  woods,"  Heyward  ventured  to  suggest. 

"  No ;  it  would  be  better  to  mislead  the  imps,  and  make 
them  believe  they  must  equal  a  horse's  speed  to  ru>? 


5 6  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

down  their  chase.  Aye,  aye,  that  will  blind  their 
fire-balls  of  eyes!  Chingach —  Hist!  what  stirs  the 
bush?" 

"The   colt." 

:t  That  colt,  at  least,  must  die,"  muttered  the  scout, 
grasping  the  mane  of  the  nimble  beast,  which  easily 
eluded  his  hand ;  "  Uncas,  your  arrows !  " 

"  Hold !  "  exclaimed  the  proprietor  of  the  condemned 
animal,  aloud,  without  regard  to  the  whispering  tones 
used  by  the  others ;  "  spare  the  foal  of  Miriam !  it  is  the 
comely  offspring  of  a  faithful  dam,  and  would  willingly 
injure  naught." 

"  When  men  struggle  for  the  single  life  God  has  given 
them,"  said  the  scout  sternly,  "  even  their  own  kind  seem 
no  more  than  the  beasts  of  the  wood.  If  you  speak 
again,  I  shall  leave  you  to  the  mercy  of  the  Maquas! 
Draw  to  your  arrow's  head,  Uncas;  we  have  no  time 
for  second  blows." 

The  low,  muttering  sounds  of  his  threatening  voice 
were  still  audible,  when  the  wounded  foal,  first  rearing 
on  its  hinder  legs,  plunged  forward  to  its  knees.  It  was 
met  by  Chingachgook,  whose  knife  passed  across  its 
throat  quicker  than  thought,  and  then  precipitating  the 
motions  of  the  struggling  victim,  he  dashed  it  into  the 
river,  down  whose  stream  it  glided  away,  gasping  audi 
bly  for  breath  with  its  ebbing  life.  This  deed  of  ap 
parent  cruelty,  but  of  real  necessity,  fell  upon  the  spirits 
of  the  travelers  like  a  terrific  warning  of  the  peril  in 
which  they  stood,  heightened  as  it  was  by  the  calm 
though  steady  resolution  of  the  actors  in  the  scene.  The 
sisters  shuddered  and  clung  closer  to  each  other,  while 
Heyward  instinctively  laid  his  hand  on  one  of  the  pistols 
be  had  just  drawn  from  their  holsters,  as  he  placed  him- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  57 

self  between  his  charge  and  those  dense  shadows  that 
seemed  to  draw  an  impenetrable  veil  before  the  bosom 
of  the  forest. 

The  Indians,  however,  hesitated  not  a  moment,  but 
taking  the  bridles,  they  led  the  frightened  and  reluctant 
horses  into  the  bed  of  the  river. 

At  a  short  distance  from  the  shore  they  turned,  and 
were  Soon  concealed  by  the  projection  of  the  bank,  un 
der  the  brow  of  which  they  moved,  in  a  direction  oppo 
site  to  the  course  of  the  waters.  In  the  meantime,  the 
scout  drew  a  canoe  of  bark  from  its  place  of  conceal 
ment  beneath  some  low  bushes,  whose  branches  were 
waving  with  the  eddies  of  the  current,  into  which  he 
silently  motioned  for  the  females  to  enter.  They  com 
plied  without  hesitation,  though  many  a  fearful  and 
anxious  glance  was  thrown  behind  them  towards  the 
thickening  gloom  which  now  lay  like  a  dark  barrier  along 
the  margin  of  the  stream. 

So  soon  as  Cora  and  Alice  were  seated,  the  scout,  with 
out  regarding  the  element,  directed  Heyward  to  support 
one  side  of  the  frail  vessel,  and  posting  himself  at  the 
other,  they  bore  it  up  against  the  stream,  followed  by 
the  dejected  owner  of  the  dead  foal.  In  this  manner 
they  proceeded,  for  many  rods,  in  a  silence  that  was  only 
interrupted  by  the  rippling  of  the  water,  as  its  eddies 
played  around  them,  or  the  low  dash  made  by  their  own 
cautious  footsteps.  Heyward  yielded  the  guidance  of  the 
canoe  implicitly  to  the  scout,  who  approached  or  receded 
from  the  shore,  to  avoid  the  fragments  of  rocks,  or 
deeper  parts  of  the  river,  with  a  readiness  that  showed 
his  knowledge  of  the  route  they  held.  Occasionally  he 
would  stop ;  and  in  the  midst  of  a  breathing  stillness, 
that  the  dull  but  increasing  roar  of  the  waterfall  only 


58  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

served  to  render  more  impressive,  he  would  listen  with 
painful  intenseness,  to  catch  any  sounds  that  might  arise 
from  the  slumbering  forest.  When  assured  that  all  was 
still,  and  unable  to  detect,  even  by  the  aid  of  his  prac 
tised  senses,  any  sign  of  his  approaching  foes,  he  would 
deliberately  resume  his  slow  and  unguarded  progress. 
At  length  they  reached  a  point  in  the  river,  where  the 
roving  eye  of  Heyward  became  riveted  on  a  cluster  of 
black  objects,  collected  at  a  spot  where  the  high  bank 
threw  a  deeper  shadow  than  usual  on  the  dark  waters. 
Hesitating  to  advance,  he  pointed  out  the  place  to  the 
attention  of  his  companion. 

"  Aye,"  returned  the  composed  scout,  "  the  Indians 
have  hid  the  beasts  with  the  judgment  of  natives!  Wa 
ter  leaves  no  trail,  and  an  owl's  eyes  would  be  blinded 
by  the  darkness  of  such  a  hole." 

The  whole  party  was  soon  reunited,  and  another  con 
sultation  was  held  between  the  scout  and  his  new  com 
rades,  during  which,  they  whose  fates  depended  on  the 
faith  and  ingenuity  of  these  unknown  foresters,  had  a 
little  leisure  to  observe  their  situation  more  minutely. 

The.  river  was  confined  between  high  and  cragged 
rocks,  one  of  which  impended  above  the  spot  where  the 
canoe  rested.  As  these,  again,  were  surmounted  by  tall 
trees,  which  appeared  to  totter  on  the  brows  of  the 
precipice,  it  gave  the  stream  the  appearance  of  running 
through  a  deep  and  narrow  dell.  All  beneath  the  fan 
tastic  limbs  and  ragged  tree-tops,  which  were,  here  and 
there,  dimly  painted  against  the  starry  zenith,  lay  alike 
in  shadowed  obscurity.  Behind  them,  the  curvature  of 
the  banks  soon  bounded  the  view,  by  the  same  dark  and 
wooded  outline ;  but  in  front,  and  apparently  at  no  great 
distance,  the  water  seemed  piled  against  the  heavens, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  59 

whence  it  tumbled  into  caverns,  out  of  which  issued  those 
sullen  sounds  that  had  loaded  the  evening  atmosphere. 
It  seemed,  in  truth,  to  be  a  spot  devoted  to  seclusion, 
and  the  sisters  imbibed  a  soothing  impression  of  security, 
as  they  gazed  upon  its  romantic,  though  not  unappalling 
beauties.  A  general  movement  among  their  conductors, 
however,  soon  recalled  them  from  a  contemplation  of 
the  wild  charms  that  night  had  assisted  to  lend  the  place, 
to  a  painful  sense  of  their  real  peril. 

The  horses  had  been  secured  to  some  scattered  shrubs 
that  grew  in  the  fissures  of  the  rocks,  where,  standing  in 
the  water,  they  were  left  to  pass  the  night.  The  scout 
directed  Heyward  and  his  disconsolate  fellow-travelers 
to  seat  themselves  in  the  forward  end  of  the  canoe,  and 
took  possession  of  the  other  himself,  as  erect  and  steady 
as  if  he  floated  in  a  vessel  of  much  firmer  materials.  The 
Indians  warily  retraced  their  steps  towards  the  place  they 
had  left,  when  the  scout,  placing  his  pole  against  a  rock, 
by  a  powerful  shove,  sent  his  frail  bark  directly  into 
the  center  of  the  turbulent  stream.  For  many  minutes 
the  struggle  between  the  light  bubble  in  which  they 
floated,  and  the  swift  current,  was  severe  and  doubtful. 
Forbidden  to  stir  even  a  hand,  and  almost  afraid  to 
breathe,  lest  they  should  expose  the  frail  fabric  to  the 
fury  of  the  stream,  the  passengers  watched  the  glancing 
waters  in  feverish  suspense.  Twenty  times  they  thought 
the  whirling  eddies  were  sweeping  them  to  destruction, 
when  the  master-hand  of  their  pilot  would  bring  the 
bows  of  the  canoe  to  stem  the  rapid.  A  long,  a  vigorous, 
and,  as  it  appeared  to  the  females,  a  desperate  effort, 
closed  the  struggle.  Just  as  Alice  veiled  her  eyes  in 
horror,  under  the  impression  that  they  were  about  to  be 
swept  within  the  vortex  at  the  foot  of  the  cataract,  the 


60  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

canoe  floated,  stationary,  at  the  side  of  a  flat  rock,  that 
lay  on  a  level  with  the  water. 

"  Where  are  we  ?  and  what  is  next  to  be  done  ?  "  de 
manded  Heyward,  perceiving  that  the  exertions  of  the 
scout  had  ceased. 

"  You  are  at  the  foot  of  Glenn's/'  returned  the  other, 
speaking  aloud,  without  fear  of  consequences,  within  the 
roar  of  the  cataract ;  "  and  the  next  thing  is  to  make  a 
steady  landing,  lest  the  canoe  upset,  and  you  should  go 
down  again  the  hard  road  we  have  traveled,  faster  than 
you  came  up;  'tis  a  hard  rift  to  stem,  when  the  river -is  a 
little  swelled;  and  five  is  an  unnatural  number  to  keep 
dry,  in  the  hurry-skurry,  with  a  little  birchen  bark  and, 
gum.  There,  go  you  all  on  the  rock,  and  I  will  bring  up 
the  Mohicans  with  the  venison.  A  man  had  better  sleep 
without  his  scalp,  than  famish  in  the  midst  of  plenty." 

His  passengers  gladly  complied  with  these  directions. 
As  the  last  foot  touched  the  rock,  the  canoe  whirled  from 
its  station,  when  the  tall  form  of  the  scout  was  seen,  for 
an  instant,  gliding  above  the  waters,  before  it  disap 
peared  in  the  impenetrable  darkness  that  rested  on  the 
bed  of  the  river.  Left  by  their  guide,  the  travelers  re 
mained  a  few  minutes  in  helpless  ignorance,  afraid  even 
to  move  along  the  broken  rocks,  lest  a  false  step  should 
precipitate  them  down  some  one  of  the  many  deep  and 
roaring  caverns,  into  which  the  water  seemed  to  tumble, 
on  every  side  of  them.  Their  suspense,  however,  was 
soon  relieved;  for  aided  by  the  skill  of  the  natives,  the 
canoe  shot  back  into  the  eddy,  and  floated  again  at  the 
side  of  the  low  rock  before  they  thought  the  scout  had 
even  time  to  rejoin  his  companions. 

"  We  are  now  fortified,  garrisoned,  and  provisioned," 
cried  Heyward,  cheerfully,  "  and  may  set  Montcalm  and 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  6 1 

his  allies  at  defiance.  How,  now,  my  vigilant  sentinel, 
can  you  see  anything  of  those  you  call  the  Iroquois,  on 
the  mainland  ?  " 

"  I  call  them  Iroquois,  because  to  me  every  native, 
who  speaks  a  foreign  tongue,  is  accounted  an  enemy, 
though  he  may  pretend  to  serve  the  king!  If  Webb 
wants  faith  and  honesty  in  an  Indian,  let  him  bring  out 
the  tribes  of  the  Delawares,  and  send  these  greedy  and 
lying  Mohawks  and  Oneidas,  with  their  six  nations  of 
varlets,  where  in  nature  they  belong,  among  the  French !  " 

"  We  should  then  exchange  a  warlike  for  a  useless 
friend !  I  have  heard  that  the  Delawares  have  laid  aside 
the  hatchet,  and  are  content  to  be  called  women !  " 

"  Aye,  shame  on  the  Hollanders  1  and  Iroquois,  who  cir 
cumvented  them  by  their  deviltries,  into  such  a  treaty! 
But  I  have  known  them  for  twenty  years,  and  I  call  him 
liar,  that  says  cowardly  blood  runs  in  the  veins  of  a 
Delaware.  You  have  driven  their  tribes  from  the  sea 
shore,  and  would  now  believe  what  their  enemies  say, 
that  you  may  sleep  at  night  upon  an  easy  pillow.  No, 
no;  to  me,  every  Indian  who  speaks  a  foreign  tongue  is 
an  Iroquois,  whether  the  castle  2  of  his  tribe  be  in  Can 
ada,  or  be  in  York." 

Heyward,  perceiving  that  the  stubborn  adherence  of 
the  scout  to  the  cause  of  his  friends  the  Delawares  or 
Mohicans,  for  they  were  branches  of  the  same  numerous 
people,  was  likely  to  prolong  a  useless  discussion,  changed 
the  subject. 

1  The  reader  will  remember  that  New  York  was  originally  a 
colony  of  the  Dutch. 

*The  principal  villages  of  the  Indians  are  still  called  "  castles  " 
by  the  whites  of  New  York.  "  Oneida  castle  "  is  no  more  than 
a  scattered  hamlet;  but  the  name  is  in  general  use. 


62  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

'*  Treaty  or  no  treaty,  I  know  full  well,  that  your  two 
companions  are  brave  and  cautious  warriors!  have  they 
heard  or  seen  anything  of  our  enemies  ?  " 

"  An  Indian  is  a  mortal  to  be  felt  afore  he  is  seen/' 
returned  the  scout,  ascending  the  rock,  and  throwing  the 
deer  carelessly  down.  "  I  trust  to  other  signs  than  such 
as  come  in  at  the  eye,  when  I  am  outlying  on  the  trail 
of  the  Mingos." 

"  Do  your  ears  tell  you  that  they  have  traced  our 
retreat?" 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  think  they  had,  though  this  is  a 
spot  that  stout  courage  might  hold  for  a  smart  skrim- 
mage.  I  will  not  deny,  however,  but  the  horses  cowered 
when  I  passed  them,  as  though  they  scented  the  wolves; 
and  a  wolf  is  a  beast  that  is  apt  to  hover  about  an  In 
dian  ambushment,  craving  the  offals  of  the  deer  the 
savages  kill." 

"  You  forget  the  buck  at  your  feet !  or,  may  we  not 
owe  their  visit  to  the  dead  colt?  Ha!  what  noise  is 
that?" 

"  Poor  Miriam !  "  murmured  the  stranger ;  "  thy  foal 
was  foreordained  to  become  a  prey  to  ravenous  beasts !  " 
Then,  suddenly  lifting  up  his  voice,  amid  the  eternal  din 
of  the  waters,  he  sang  aloud, — 

"  First  born  of  Egypt,  smite  did  He, 
Of  mankind,  and  of  beast  also; 
O,  Egypt !  wonders  sent  'midst  thee, 
On  Pharaoh  and  his  servants  too !  " 

"  The  death  of  the  colt  sits  heavy  on  the  heart  of  its 
owner,"  said  the  scout;  "  but  it's  a  good  sign  to  see  a  man 
account  upon  his  dumb  friends.  He  has  the  religion  of 
the  matter,  in  believing  what  is  to  happen  will  happen; 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  63 

and  with  such  a  consolation,  it  won't  be  long  afore  he 
submits  to  the  rationality  of  killing  a  four-footed  beast, 
to  save  the  lives  of  human  men.  It  may  be  as  you  say," 
he  continued,  reverting  to  the  purport  of  Heyward's 
last  remark ;  "  and  the  greater  the  reason  why  we  should 
cut  our  steaks,  and  let  the  carcase  drive  down  the  stream, 
or  we  shall  have  the  pack  howling  along  the  cliffs,  be 
grudging  every  mouthful  we  swallow.  Besides,  though 
the  Delaware  tongue  is  the  same  as  a  book  to  the  Iro- 
quois,  the  cunning  varlets  are  quick  enough  at  under 
standing  the  reason  of  a  wolf's  howl." 

The  scout,  whilst  making  his  remarks,  was  busied  in 
collecting  certain  necessary  implements ;  as  he  concluded, 
he  moved  silently  by  the  group  of  travelers,  accompanied 
by  the  Mohicans,  who  seemed  to  comprehend  his  inten- 
i  tions  with  instinctive  readiness,  when  the  whole  three 
disappeared  in  succession,  seeming  to  vanish  against  the 
dark  face  of  a  perpendicular  rock,  that  rose  to  the  height 
of  a  few  yards  within  as  many  feet  of  the  water's 
edge. 


CHAPTER 
VI.  6    g    6 


"  Those  strains  that  once  did  sweet  in  Zion  glide ; 
He  wales  a  portion  with  judicious  care; 
And  '  Let  us  worship  God,'  he  says,  with  solemn  air." 

BURNS. 

HEYWARD,  and  his  female  companions,  witnessed 
this  mysterious  movement  with  secret  uneasiness ; 
for,  though  the  conduct  of  the  white  man  had  hitherto 
been  above  reproach,  his  rude  equipments,  blunt  address, 
and  strong  antipathies,  together  with  the  character  of  his 
silent  associates,  were  all  causes  for  exciting  distrust  in 
minds  that  had  been  so  recently  alarmed  by  Indian 
treachery. 

The  stranger  alone  disregarded  the  passing  incidents. 
He  seated  himself  on  a  projection  of  the  rocks,  whence 
he  gave  no  other  signs  of  consciousness  than  by  the 
struggles  of  his  spirit,  as  manifested  in  frequent  and 
heavy  sighs.  Smothered  voices  were  next  heard,  as 
though  men  called  to  each  other  in  the  bowels  of  the 
earth,  when  a  sudden  light  flashed  upon  thoso  without, 
and  laid  bare  the  much-prized  secret  of  the  place. 

At  the  farther  extremity  of  a  narrow,  deep  cavern  in/ 

64 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  65 

the  rock,  whose  length  appeared  much  extended  by  the 
perspective  and  the  nature  of  the  light  by  which  it  was 
seen,  was  seated  the  scout,  holding  a  blazing  knot  of  pine. 
The  strong  glare  of  the  fire  fell  full  upon  his  sturdy, 
weather-beaten  countenance  and  forest  attire,  lending  an 
air  of  romantic  wildness.  to  the  aspect  of  an  individual, 
who,  seen  by  the  sober  light  of  day,  would  have  exhibited 
the  peculiarities  of  a  man  remarkable  for  the  strangeness 
of  his  dress,  the  iron-like  inflexibility  of  his  frame,  and 
the  singular  compound  of  quick,  vigilant  sagacity,  and  of 
exquisite  simplicity,  that  by  turns  usurped  the  possession 
of  his  muscular  features.  At  a  little  distance  in  advance 
stood  Uncas,  his  whole  person  thrown  powerfully  into 
view.  The  travelers  anxiously  regarded  the  upright, 
flexible  figure  of  the  young  Mohican,  graceful  and  unre^K- 
strajnjed  in  the  attitudes  and  movements  of  nature. 
Though  his  person  was  more  than  usually  screened  by 
a  green  and  fringed  hunting-shirt,  like  that  of  the  white 
man,  there  was  no  concealment  to  his  dark,  glancing, 
fearless  eye,  alike  terrible  and  calm;  the  bold  outline  of 
his  high,  haughty  features,  pure  in  their  native  red;  or 
to  the  dignified  elevation  of  his  receding  forehead,  to 
gether  with  all  the  finest  proportions  of  a  noble  head, 
bared  to  the  generous  scalping  tuft.  It  was  the  first 
opportunity  possessed  by  Duncan  and  his  companions,  to  . 
view  the  marked  lineaments  of  either  of  their  Indian 
attendants,  and  each  individual  of  the  party  felt  relieved 
from  a  burden  of  doubt,  as  the  proud  and  determined, 
though  wild  expression  of  the  features  of  the  young  war 
rior  forced  itself  on  their  notice.  They  felt  it  might 
be  a  being  partially  benighted  in  the  vale  of  ignorance, 
but  it  could  not  be  one  who  would  willingly  devote  his 
rich  natural  gifts  to  the  purposes  of  wanton  treachery. 


66  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

The  ingenuous  Alice  gazed  at  his  free  air  and  proud 
carriage,  as  she  would  have  looked  upon  some  precious 
relic  of  the  Grecian  chisel,  to  which  life  had  been  im 
parted  by  the  intervention  of  a  miracle;  while  Heyward, 
though  accustomed  to  see  the  perfection  of  form  which 
abounds  among  the  uncorrupted  natives,  openly  expressed 
his  admiration  at  such  an  unblemished  specimen  of  the 
noblest  proportions  of  man. 

"  I  could  sleep  in  peace,"  whispered  Alice,  in  reply, 
"  with  such  a  fearless  and  generous  looking  youth  for -my 
sentinel.  Surely,  Duncan,  those  cruel  murders,  those  ter 
rific  scenes  of  torture,  of  which  we  read  and  hear 
so  much,  are  never  acted  in  the  presence  of  such  as 
he!" 

"  This,  certainly,  is  a  rare  and  brilliant  instance  of 
those  natural  qualities,  in  which  these  peculiar  people 
are  said  to  excel,"  he  answered.  "  I  agree  with  you, 
Alice,  in  thinking  that  such  a  front  and. eye  were  formed 
rather  to  intimidate  than  to  deceive;  but  let  us  not  prac-- 
tise  a  deception  upon  ourselves,  by  expecting  any  other 
exhibition  of  what  we  esteem  virtue  than  according  to 
the  fashion  of  a  savage.  As  bright  examples  of  great 
qualities  are  but  too  uncommon  among  Christians,  so 
are  they  singular  and  solitary  with  the  Indians;  though, 
for  the  honor  of  our  common  nature,  neither  are  incap 
able  of  producing  them.  Let  us  then  hope  that  this 
Mohican  may  not  disappoint  our  wishes,  but  prove, 
what  his  looks  assert  him  to  be,  a  brave  and  constant 
friend." 

"  Now  Major  Heyward  speaks  as  Major  Heyward 
should,"  said  Cora ;  "  who,  that  looks  at  this  creature  of, 
nature,  remembers  the  ^hade  of  his  skin  !  "  ^  *  ^°^ 

A  short,  and  apparently^  an  eTribarrassed  silence  sue- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  67 

ceeded  this  remark,  which  was  interrupted  by  the  scout 
calling  to  them,  aloud,  to  enter. 

"  This  fire  begins  to  show  too  bright  a  flame,"  he  con 
tinued,  as  they  complied,  "  and  might  light  the  Mingos 
to  our  undoing.  Uncas,  drop  the  blanket,  and  show  the 
knaves  its  dark  side.  This  is  not  such  a  supper  as  a 
major  of  the  Royal  Americans  has  a  right  to  expect,  but 
I've  known  stout  detachments  of  the  corps  glad  to  eat 
their  venison  raw,  and  without  a  relish  too.1  Here,  you 
see,  we  have  plenty  of  salt,  and  can  make  a  quick  broil. 
There's  fresh  sassafras  boughs  for  the  ladies  to  sit  on, 
which  may  not  be  as  proud  as  their  my-hog-guinea  chairs, 
but  which  sends  up  a  sweeter  flavor  than  the  skin  of  any 
hog  can  do,  be  it  of  Guinea,  or  be  it  of  any  other  land. 
Come,  friend,  don't  be  mournful  for  the  colt;  'twas  an 
innocent  thing,  and  had  not  seen  much  hardship.  Its 
death  will  save  the  creature  many  a  sore  back  and  weary 
foot!" 

Uncas  did  as  the  other  had  directed,  and  when  the 
voice  of  Hawkeye  ceased,  the  roar  of  the  cataract 
sounded  like  the  rumbling  of  distant  thunder. 

"  Are  we  quite  safe  in  this  cavern?"  demanded  Hey- 
ward.  "  Is  there  no  danger  of  surprise?  A  single  armed 
man,  at  its  entrance,  would  hold  us  at  his  mercy." 

A  spectral-looking  figure  stalked  from  out  the  darkness 

1  In  vulgar  parlance  the  condiments  of  a  repast  are  called  by 
the  American  "  a  relish,"  substituting  the  thing  for  its  effect. 
These  provincial  terms  are  frequently  put  in  the  mouths  of  the 
speakers,  according  to  their  several  conditions  in  life.  Most  of 
them  are  of  local  use,  and  others  quite  peculiar  to  the  particular 
class  of  men  to  which  the  character  belongs.  In  the  present 
instance,  the  scout  uses  the  word  with  immediate  reference  to 
the  salt,  with  which  his  own  party  was  so  fortunate  as  to  be 
provided. 


68  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

behind  the  scout,  and  seizing  a  blazing  brand,  held  it 
towards  the  farther  extremity  of  their  place  of  retreat. 
Alice  uttered  a  faint  shriek,  and  even  Cora  rose  to  her 
feet,  as  this  appalling  object  moved  into  the  light;  but 
a  single  word  from  Heyward  calmed  them,  with  the  as 
surance  it  was  only  their  attendant,  Chingachgook,  who, 
lifting  another  blanket,  discovered  that  the  cavern  had 
two  outlets.  Then,  holding  the  brand,  he  crossed  a  deep, 
narrow  chasm  in  the  rocks,  which  ran  at  right  angles 
with  the  passage  they  were  in,  but  which,  unlike  that, 
was  open  to  the  heavens,  and  entered  another  cave,  an 
swering  to  the  description  of  the  first,  in  every  essential 
particular. 

"  Such  old  foxes  as  Chingachgook  and  myself  are  not* 
often  caught  in  a  burrow  with  one  hole/'  said  Hawkeye, 
laughing ;  "  you  can  easily  see  the  cunning  of  the  place — 
the  rock  is  black  limestone,  which  everybody  knows  is 
soft;  it  makes  no  uncomfortable  pillow,  where  brush  and 
pine  wood  is  scarce;  well,  the  fall  was  once  a  few  yards 
below  us,  and  I  dare  to  say  was,  in  its  time,  as  regular 
and  as  handsome  a  sheet  of  water  as  any  along  the 
Hudson.  But  old  age  is  a  great  injury  to  good  looks, 
as  these  sweet  young  ladies  have  yet  to  Tarn !  The  place 
is  sadly  changed!  These  rocks  are  full  of  cracks,  and 
in  some  places  they  are  softer  than  at  othersome,  and 
the  water  has  worked  out  deep  hollows  for  itself,  until 
it  has  fallen  back,  aye,  some  hundred  feet,  breaking  here 
and  wearing  there,  until  the  falls  have  neither  shape  nor 
consistency." 

"  In  what  part  of  them  are  we?"  asked  Heyward. 

"  Why,  we  are  nigh  the  spot  that  Providence  first 
placed  them  at,  but  where,  it  seems,  they  were  too  re 
bellious  to  stay.  The  rock  proved  softer  on  each  side 


'     The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  69 

of  us,  and  so  they  left  the  center  of  the  river  bare  and 
dry,  first  working  out  these  two  little  holes  for  us  to 
hide  in." 

"  We  are  then  on  an  island  ?  " 

"  Aye !  there  are  the  falls  on  two  sides  of  us,  and  the 
river  above  and  below.  If  you  had  daylight,  it  would  be 
worth  the  trouble  to  step  -up  on  the  height  of  this  rock, 
and  look  at  the  perversity  of  the  water.  It  falls  by  no 
rule  at  all ;  sometimes  it  leaps,  sometimes  it  tumbles ; 
there,  it  skips;  here,  it  shoots;  in  one  place  'tis  white  as 
snow,  and  in  another  'tis  green  as  grass ;  hereabouts,  it 
pitches  into  deep  hollows,  that  rumble  and  quake  the 
'arth;  and  hereaway,  it  ripples  and  sings  like  a  brook, 
fashioning  whirlpools  and  gulleys  in  the  old  stone,  as 
if  'twas  no  harder  than  trodden  clay.  The  whole  de 
sign  of  the  river  seems  disconcerted.  First  it  runs 
smoothly,  as  if  meaning  to  go  down  the  descent  as  things 
were  ordered ;  then  it  angles  about  and  faces  the  shores ; 
nor  are  there  places  wanting  where  it  looks  backward,  as 
if  unwilling  to  leave  the  wilderness,  to  mingle  with  the 
salt !  Aye,  lady,  the  fine  cobweb-looking  cloth  you  wear 
at  your  throat,  is  coarse,  and  like  a  fish-net,  to  little 
spots  I  can  show  you,  where  the  river  fabricates  all  sorts 
of  images,  as  if,  having  broke  loose  from  order,  it  would 
try  its  hand  at  everything.  And  yet  what  does  it  amount 
to!  After  the  water  has  been  suffered  to  have  its  will, 
for  a  time,  like  a  headstrong  man,  it  is  gathered  together 
by  the  hand  that  made  it,  and  a  few  rods  below  you 
may  see  it  all,  flowing  on  steadily  towards  the  sea,  as 
was  foreordained  from  the  first  foundation  of  the 
'arth !  " 

While  his  auditors  received  a  cheering  assurance  of 
trie  security  of  their  place  of  concealment,  from  this  un- 


70  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

tutored  description  of  Glenn's,1  they  were  much  inclined 
to  judge  differently  from  Hawkeye,  of  its  wild  beauties. 
But  they  were  not  in  a  situation  to  suffer  their  thoughts 
to  dwell  on  the  charms  of  natural  objects;  and,  as  the 
scout  had  not  found  it  necessary  to  cease  his  culinary  la 
bors  while  he  spoke,  unless  to  point  out,  with  a  broken 
fork,  the  direction  of  some  particularly  obnoxious  point 
in  the  rebellious  stream,  they  now  suffered  their  atten 
tion  to  be  drawn  to  the  necessary,  though  more  vulgar 
consideration  of  their  supper. 

The  repast,  which  was  greatly  aided  by  the  addition  of 
a  few  delicacies  that  Heyward  had  the  precaution  to 
bring  with  him  when  they  left  their  horses,  was  exceed 
ingly  refreshing  to  the  wearied  party.  Uncas  acted  as 
attendant  to  the  females,  performing  all  the  little  offices 
within  his  power,  with  a  mixture  of  dignity  and  anxious 
•  •  grace,  that  served  to  amuse  Heyward,  who  well  knew 
that  it  was  an  utter  innovation  on  the  Indian  customs, 
which  forbid  their  warriors  to  descend  to  any  menial 
employment,  especially  in  favor  of  their  women.  As 
the  rites  of  hospitality  were,  however,  considered  sacred 

1  Glenn's  Falls  are  on  the  Hudson,  some  forty  or  fifty  miles 
above  the  head  of  tide,  or  the  place  where  that  river  becomes 
navigable  for  sloops.  The  description  of  this  picturesque  and 
remarkable  little  cataract,  as  given  by  the  scout,  is  sufficiently 
correct,  though  the  application  of  the  water  to  the  uses  of 
civilized  life  has  materially  injured  its  beauties.  The  rocky  island 
and  the  two  caverns  are  well  known  to  every  traveler,  since  the 
former  sustains  a  pier  of  a  bridge,  which  is  now  thrown  across 
the  river,  immediately  above  the  fall.  In  explanation  of  the 
taste  of  Hawkeye,  it  should  be  remembered  that  men  always 
prize  that  most  which  is  least  enjoyed.  Thus,  in  a  new  country, 
the  woods  and  other  objects,  which  in  an  old  country  would  be 
maintained  at  great  cost,  are  got  rid  of,  simply  with  a  view  of 
"improving,"  as  it  is  called. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  71 

among  them,  this  little  "departure  from  the  dignity  of 
manhood  excited  no  audible  comment.  Had  there  been 
one  there  sufficiently  disengaged  to  become  a  close  ob 
server,  he  might  have  fancied  that  the  services  of  the 
young  chief  were  not  entirely  impartial.  That  while 
-he  tendered  to  Alice  the  gourd  of  sweet  water  and  the 
venison  in  a  trencher,  neatly  carved  from  the  knot  of  the 
pepperidge,  with  sufficient  courtesy,  in  performing  the 
same  offices  to  her  sister,  his  dark  eye  lingered  on  her 
rich,  speaking  countenance.  Once  or  twice  he  was  com 
pelled  to  speak,  to  command  the  attention  of  those  he 
served.  In  such  cases,  he  made  use  of  English,  broken 
and  imperfect,  but  sufficiently  intelligible,  and  which  he 
rendered  so  mild  and  musical,  by  his  deep,1  guttural 
voice,  that  it  never  f-ailed  to  cause  both  ladies  to  look 
up  in  admiration  and  astonishment.  In  the  course  of 
these  civilities,  a  few  sentences  were  exchanged,  that 
served  to  establish  the  appearance  of  an  amicable  inter 
course  between  the  parties. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  gravity  of  Chingachgook  re 
mained  immovable.  He  had  seated  himself  more  within 
the  circle  of  light,  where  the  frequent  uneasy  glances 
of  his  guests  were  better  enabled  to  separate  the  natural 
expression  of  his  face  from  the  artificial  terrors  of  the 
war-paint.  They  found  a  strong  resemblance  between 
father  and  son,  with  the  difference  that  might  be  ex 
pected  from  age  and  hardships.  The  fierceness  of  his 
countenance  now  seemed  to  slumber,  and  in  its  place 
was  to  be  seen  the  quiet,  vacant  composure,  which  dis 
tinguishes  an  Indian  warrior,  when  his  faculties  are  not 

*The  meaning  of  Indian  words  is  much  governed  by  the 
emphasis  and  tones. 


72  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

required  for  any  of  the  greater  purposes  of  his  exist 
ence.  It  was,  however,  easy  to  be  seen,  by  the  occa 
sional  gleams  that  shot  across  his  swarthy  visage,  that 
it  was  only  necessary  to  arouse  his  passions,  in  order  to 
g*ive  full  effect  to  the  terrific  device  which  he  had  adopted 
to  intimidate  his  enemies.  On  the  other  hand,  the  quick, 
roving  eye  of  the  Sc^ut-seldom  rested.  He  ate  and  drank 
with  an  appetite  that  no  sense  of  danger  could  disturb, 
but  his  vigilance  seemed  never  to  desert  him.  Twenty 
times  the  gourd  or  the  venison  was  suspended  before 
his  lips,  while  his  head  was  turned  aside,  as  though  he 
listened  to  some  distant  and  distrusted  sounds — a  move 
ment  that  never  failed  to  recall  his  guests  from  regarding 
the  novelties  of  their  situation,  to  a  recollection  of  the 
alarming  reasons  that  had  driven  them  to  seek  it.  As 
these  frequent  pauses  were  never  followed  by  any  re 
mark,  the  momentary  uneasiness  they  created  quickly 
passed  away,  and  for  a  time  was  forgotten. 

"  Come,  friend,"  said  Hawkeye,  drawing  out  a  keg 
from  beneath  a  cover  of  leaves,  towards  the  close  of  the 
repast,  and  addressing  the  stranger  who  sat  at  his  el 
bow,  doing  great  justice  to  his  culinary  skill,  "  try  a  little 
spruce;  'twill  wash  away  all  thoughts  of  the  colt,  and 
quicken  the  life  in  your  bosom.  I  drink  to  our  better 
friendship,  hoping  that  a  little  horse-flesh  may  leave  no 
heartburnings  atween  us.  How  do  you  name  yourself?  " 

"  Gamut — David  Gamut/'  returned  the  singing-master, 
preparing  to  wash  down  his  sorrows  in  a  powerful 
draught  of  the  woodman's  high-flavored  and  well-laced 
compound. 

"  A  very  good  name,  and,  I  dare  say,  handed  down 
from  honest  forefathers.  I'm  an  admirator  of  names, 
though  the  Christian  fashions  fall  far  below  savage  cus- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  73 

toms  in  this  particular.  The  biggest  coward  I  ever  knew 
was  called  Lyon;  and  his  wife,  Patience,  would  scold  you 
out  of  hearing  in  less  time  than  a  hunted  deer  would  run 
a  rod.  With  an  Indian  'tis  a  matter  of  conscience ;  what 
he  calls  himself,  he  generally  is — not  that  Chingachgook, 
which  signifies  Big  Sarpent,  is  really  a  snake,  big  or  lit 
tle;  but  that  he  understands  the  windings  and  turnings 
of  human  natur'.,  and  is  silent,  and  strikes  his  enemies 
when  they  least  expect  him.  What  may  be  your  calling?  " 

"  I  am  an  unworthy  instructor  in  the  art  of  psalmody." 

"  Anan !  " 

"  I  teach  singing  to  the  youths  of  the  Connecticut 
levy." 

"  You  might  be  better  employed.  The  young  hounds 
go  laughing  and  singing  too  much  already  through  the 
woods,  when  they  ought  not  to  breathe  louder  than  a  fox 
in  his  cover.  Can  you  use  the  smooth  bore,  or  handle  the 
rifle?" 

"  Praised  be  God,  I  have  never  had  occasion  to  meddle 
with  murderous  implements !  " 

"  Perhaps  you  understand  the  compass,  and  lay  down 
the  water-courses  and  mountains  of  the  wilderness  on 
paper,  in  order  that  they  who  follow  may  find  places  by 
their  given  names?" 

"  I  practise  no  such  employment." 

"  You  have  a  pair  of  legs  that  might  make  a  long  path 
seem  short!  you  journey  sometimes,  I  fancy,  with  tidings 
for  the  general."  .fijr 

"  Never ;  I  follow  no  other  than  my_own  highvocation, 
which  is  instruction  in  sacred  music !  " 

*  Tis  a  strange  calling!"  muttered  Hawkeye,  with 
an  inward  laugh,  "  to  go  through  life,  like  a  catbird, 
mocking  all  the  ups  and  downs  that  may  happen  to  come 


74  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

out  of  other  men's  throats.  Well,  friend,  I  suppose  it  is 
your  gift,  and  mustn't  be  denied  any  more  than  if  'twas 
shooting,  or  some  other  better  inclination.  Let  us  hear 
what  you  can  do  in  that  way  ;  'twill  be  a  friendly  manner 
of  saying  good-night,  for  'tis  time  that  these  ladies 
should  be  getting  strength  for  a  hard  and  a  long  push,  in 
the  pride  of  the  morning,  afore  the  Maquas  are  stirring!  " 

"  With  joyful  pleasure  do  I  consent,"  said  David,  ad 
justing  his  iron-rimmed  spectacles,  and  producing  his  be 
loved  little  volume,  which  he  immediately  tendered  to 
Alice.  "  What  can  be  more  fitting  and  consolatory,  than 
to  offer  up  evening  praise,  after  a  day  of  such  exceeding 
jeopardy!" 

Alice  smiled;  but  regarding  Hey  ward,  she  blushed  and 


"Indulge  yourself/'  he  whispered:  "ought  not  the 
suggestion  of  the  worthy  namesake  of  the  Psalmist  to 
have  its  weight  at  such  a  moment  ?  " 

Encouraged  by  his  opinion,  Alice  did  what  her  pious 
inclinations  and  her  keen  relish  for  gentle  sounds,  had 
before  so  strongly  urged.  The  book  was  open  at  a  hymn 
not  ill-adapted  to  their  situation,  and  in  which  the  poet, 
no  longer  goaded  by  his  desire  to  excel  the  inspired  king- 
of  Israel,  had  discovered  some  chastened  and  respectable 
powers.  Cora  betrayed  a  disposition  to  support  her  sis 
ter,  and  the  sacred  song  proceeded,  after  the  indispen 
sable  preliminaries  of  the  pitch-pipe  and  the  tune  had 
been  duly  attended  to  by  the  methodical  David. 

The  air  was  solemn  and  slow.  At  times  it  rose  to  the 
fullest  'compass  of  the  rich  voices  of  the  females,  who 
hung  over  their  little  book  in  holy  excitement,  and  again 
it  sank  so  low,  that  the  rushing  of  the  waters  ran  through 
their  melody,  like  a  hollow  accompaniment.  The  natural 


"  What  is  it?  "  murmured  Alice,  after  a  few  moments  of 
terrible  suspense." — Page  75. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  75 

taste  and  true  ear  of  David  governed  and  modified  the 
sounds  to  suit  the  confined  cavern,  every  crevice,  and 
cranny  of  which  was  filled  with  the  thrilling  notes  of 
their  flexible  voices.  The  Indians  riveted  their  eyes  on 
the  rocks,  and  listened  with  an  attention  that  seemed  to 
turn  them  into  stone.  But  the  scout,  who  had  placed  his 
chin  in  his  hand,  with  an  expression  of  cold  indifference, 
gradually  suffered  his  rigid  features  to  relax,  until,  as 
verse  succeeded  verse,  he  felt  his  iron  nature  subdued, 
while  his  recollection  was  carried  back  to  boyhood,  when 
his  ears  had  been  accustomed  to  listen  to  similar  sounds 
of  praise,  in  the  settlements  of  the  colony.  His  roving 
eyes  began  to  moisten,  and  before  the  hymn  was  ended, 
scalding  tears  rolled  out  of  fountains  that  had  long 
seemed  dry,  and  followed  each  other  down  those  cheeks, 
that  had  oftener  felt  the  storms  of  heaven  than  any  testi 
monials  of  weakness.  The  singers  were  dwelling  on  one 
of  those  low,  dying  chords,  which  the  ear  devours  with 
such  greedy  rapture,  as  if  conscious  that  it  is  about  to 
lose  them,  when  a  cry,  that  seemed  neither  human  nor 
earthly,  rose  in  the  outward  air,  penetrating  not  only  the 
recesses  of  the  cavern,  but  to  the  inmost  hearts  of  all 
who  heard  it.  It  was  followed  by  a  stillness  apparently 
as  deep  as  if  the  waters  had  been  checked  in  their  furious 
progress,  at  such  a  horrid  and  unusual  interruption. 

"What  is  it?"  murmured  Alice,  after  a  few  moments 
of  terrible  suspense. 

"  What  is  it?  "  repeated  Heyward  aloud. 

Neither  Hawkeye  nor  the  Indians  made  any  reply. 
They  listened,  as  if  expecting  the  sound  would  be  re 
peated,  with  a  manner  that  expressed  their  own  astonish 
ment.  At  length  they  spoke  together  earnestly,  in  the 
Delaware  language,  when  Uncas,  passing  by  the  inner 


76  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  most  concealed  aperture,  cautiously  left  the  cavern. 
When  he  had  gone,  the  scout  first  spoke  in  English. 

"  What  it  is,  or  what  it  is  not,  none  here  can  tell ; 
though  two  of  us  have  ranged  the  woods  for  more  than 
thirty  years !  I  did  believe  there  was  no  cry  that  Indians 
or  beast  could  make,  that  my  ears  had  not  heard ;  but  this 
has  proved  that  I  was  only  a  vain  and  conceited 
mortal !  " 

"  Was  it  not,  then,  the  shout  the  warriors  make  when 
they  wish  to  intimidate  their  enemies  ?  "  asked  Cora,  who 
stood  drawing  her  veil  about  her  person,  with  a  calmness 
to  which  her  agitated  sister  was  a  stranger. 

"  No,  no ;  this  was  bad,  and  shocking,  and  had  a  sort 
of  unhuman  sound;  but  when  you  once  hear  the  war- 
whoop,  you  will  never  mistake  it  for  anything  else! 
Well,  Uncas !  "  speaking  in  Delaware  to  the  young  chief 
as  he  re-entered,  "  what  see  you?  do  our  lights  shin£ 
through  the  blankets  ?  " 

The  answer  was  short,  and  apparently  decided,  being 
given  in  the  same  tongue. 

'  There  is  nothing  to  be  seen  without,"  continued 
Hawkeye,  shaking  his  head  in  discontent ;  "  and  our 
hiding-place  is  still  in  darkness !  Pass  into  the  other 
cave,  you  that  need  it,  and  seek  for  sleep;  we  must  be 
afoot  long  before  the  sun,  and  make  the  most  of  our 
time  to  get  to  Edward,  while  the  Mingos  are  taking  their 
morning  nap." 

Cora  set  the  example  of  compliance,  with  a  steadiness 
that  taught  the  more  timid  Alice  the  necessity  of  obe 
dience.  Before  leaving  the  place,  however,  she  whispered 
a  request  to  Duncan  that  he  would  follow.  Uncas  raised 
the  blanket  for  their  passage,  and  as  the  sisters  turned 
to  thank  him  for  this  act  of  attention,  they  saw  the  scout 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  77 

seated  again  before  the  dying  embers,  with  his  face  rest 
ing  on  his  hands,  in  a  manner  which  showed  how  deeply 
he  brooded  on  the  unaccountable  interruption  which  had 
broken  up  their  evening  devotions. 

Heyward  took  with  him  a  blazing  knot,  which  threw  a 
dim  light  through  the  narrow  vista  of  their  new  apart 
ment.  Placing  it  in  a  favorable  position,  he  joined  the 
females,  who  now  found  themselves  alone  with  him  for 
the  first  time  since  they  had  left  the  friendly  ramparts 
of  Fort  "Edward. 

"  Leave  us  not,  Duncan,"  said  Alice;  "  we  cannot  sleep 
in  such  a  place  as  this,  with  that  horrid  cry  still  ringing 
in  our  ears !  " 

"  First  let  us  examine  into  the  security  of  your 
fortress,"  he  answered,  "  and  then  we  will  speak  of  rest." 

He  approached  the  farther  end  of  the  cavern,  to  an 
outlet,  which,  like  the  others,  was  concealed  by  blankets, 
and  removing  the  thick  screen,  breathed  the  fresh  and 
reviving  air  from  the  cataract.  One  arm  of  the  river 
flowed  through  a  deep,  narrow  ravine,  which  its  cur 
rent  had  worn  in  the  soft  rock,  directly  beneath  his  feet, 
forming  an  effectual  defense,  as  he  believed,  against 
any  danger  from  that  quarter;  the  water,  a  few  rods 
above  them,  plunging,  glancing,  and  sweeping  along,  in 
its  most  violent  and  broken  manner. 

"  Nature  has  made  an  impenetrable  barrier  on  this 
side,"  he  continued,  pointing  down  the  perpendicular 
declivity  into  the  dark  current,  before  he  dropped  the 
blanket ;  "  and  as  you  know  that  good  men  and  true  are 
on  guard  in  front,  I  see  no  reason  why  the  advice  of  our 
honest  host  should  be  disregarded.  I  am  certain  Cora 
will  join  me  in  saying  that  sleep  is  necessary  to  you 
both." 


78  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Cora  may  submit  to  the  justice  of  your  opinion, 
though  she  cannot  put  it  in  practice,"  returned  the  elder 
sister,  who  had  placed  herself  by  the  side  of  Alice,  on 
a  couch  of  sassafras ;  "  there  would  be  other  causes  to 
chase  away  sleep,  though  we  had  been  spared  the  shock 
of  this  mysterious  noise.  Ask  yourself,  Heyward,  can 
daughters  forget  the  anxiety  a  father  must  endure,  whose 
children  lodge,  he  knows  not  where  or  how,  in  such  a 
wilderness,  and  in  the  midst  of  so  many  perils  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  soldier,  and  knows  how  to  estimate  the 
chances  of  the  woods." 

"  He  is  a  father,  and  cannot  deny  his  nature." 

"  How  kind  has  he  ever  been  to  all  my  follies !  how 
tender  and  indulgent  to  all  my  wishes !  "  sobbed  Alice. 
"  We  have  been  selfish,  sister,  in  urging  our  visit  at  such 
hazard !  " 

"  I  may  have  been  rash  in  pressing  his  consent  in  a 
moment  of  much  embarrassment,  but  I  would  have 
proved  to  him,  that  however  others  might  neglect  him 
in  his  strait,  his  children  at  least  were  faithful!  " 

"  When  he  heard  of  your  arrival  at  Edward,"  said 
Heyward,  kindly,  "  there  was  a  powerful  struggle  in  his 
bosom  between  fear  and  love ;  though  the  latter,  height 
ened,  if  possible,  by  so  long  a  separation,  quickly  pre 
vailed.  '  It  is  the  spirit  of  my  noble-minded  Cora  that 
leads  them,  Duncan/  he  said,  '  and  I  will  not  balk  it. 
Would  to  God,  that  he  who  holds  the  honor  of  our  royal 
master  in  his  guardianship,  would  show  but  half  her 
firmness ! ' : 

"  And  did  he  not  speak  of  me,  Heyward  ?  "  demanded 
Alice,  with  jealous  affection.  "  Surely,  he  forgot  not 
altogether  his  little  Elsie?" 

"  That   were   impossible,"   returned   the  young  man ; 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  79 

"  he  called  you  by  a  thousand  endearing  epithets,  that 
I  may  not  presume  to  use,  but  to  the  justice  of  which 
I  can  warmly  testify.  Once,  indeed,  he  said — 

Duncan  ceased  speaking;  for  while  his  eyes  were  riv 
eted  on  those  of  Alice,  who  had  turned  towards  him  with 
the  eagerness  of  filial  affection,  to  catch  his  words,  the 
same  strong  horrid  cry,  as  before,  filled  the  air,  and  ren 
dered  him  mute.  A  long,  breathless  silence  succeeded, 
during  which  each  looked  at  the  others  in  fearful  expec 
tation  of  hearing  the  sound  repeated.  At  length  the 
blanket  was  slowly  raised,  and  the  scout  stood  in  the 
aperture  with  a  countenance  whose  firmness  evidently 
began  to  give  way,  before  a  mystery  that  seemed  to 
threaten  some  danger,  against  which  all  his  cunning  and 
experience  might  prove  of  no  avail. 


CHAPTER 

VII.    £   g 


"  They  do  not  sleep. 
On  yonder  cliffs,  a  grisly  band, 
I  see  them  sit." 

GRAY. 

"  If  •  A  WOULD  be  neglecting  a  warning  that  is  given 
JL  for  our  good,  to  lie  hid  any  longer,"  said  Hawk- 
eye,  "  when  such  sounds  are  raised  in  the  forest !  The 
gentle  ones  may  keep  close,  but  the  Mohicans  and  I  will 
watch  upon  the  rock,  where  I  suppose  a  major  of  the 
6oth  would  wish  to  keep  us  company." 

"  Is  then  our  danger  so  pressing  ?  "  asked  Cora. 

"  He  who  makes  strange  sounds,  and  gives  them  out 
for  man's  information,  alone  knows  our  danger.  I 
should  think  myself  wicked,  unto  rebellion  against  his 
will,  was  I  to  burrow  with  such  warnings  in  the  air ! 
Even  the  weak  soul  who  passes  his  days  in  singing,  is 
stirred  by  the  cry,  and,  as  he  says,  is  '  ready  to  go  forth 
to  the  battle.'  If  'twere  only  a  battle,  it  would  be  a 
thing  understood  by  us  all,  and  easily  managed;  but  I 
have  heard  that  when  such  shrieks  are  atween  heaven 
and  'arth,  it  betokens  another  sort  of  warfare !  " 

"  If  all  our  reasons  for  fear,  my  friend,  are  confined 

80 


^ 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 


to  such  as  proceed  from  supernatural  causes,  we  have  but 
little  occasion  to  be  alarmed/'  continued  the  undisturbed 
Cora  ;  "  are  you  certain  that  our  enemies  have  not  in 
vented  some  new  and  ingenious  method  to  strike  us  with 
terror,  that  their  conquest  may  become  more  easy  ?  " 

"  Lady,"  returned  the  scout,  solemnly,  "  I  have  lis 
tened  to  all  the  sounds  of  the  woods  for  thirty  years,  as 
a  man  will  listen,  whose  life  and  death  depend  on  the 
quickness  of  his  ears.  There  is  no  whine  of  the  panther, 
no  whistle  of  the  catbird,  nor  any  invention  of  the  devil 
ish  Mingos,  that  can  cheat  me  !  I  have  heard  the  forest 
moan  like  mortal  men  in  their  affliction;  often,  and  again, 
have  I  listened  to  the  wind  playing  its  music  in  the 
branches  of  the  girdled  trees  ;  and  I  have  heard  the 
lightning  cracking  in  the  air,  like  the  snapping  of  blaz 
ing  brush,  as  it  spitted  forth  sparks  and  forked  flames  ; 
but  never  have  I  thought  that  I  heard  more  than  the 
pleasure  of  Him  who  sported  with  the  things  of  his 
hand.  But  neither  the  Mohicans,  nor  I,  who  am  a  white 
man  without  a  cross,  can  explain  the  cry  just  heard.  We, 
therefore,  believe  it  a  sign  given  for  our  good." 

"  It  is  extraordinary  !  "  said  Heyward,  taking  his 
pistols  from  the  place  where  he  had  laid  them  on  enter 
ing;  "  be  it  a  sign  of  peace  or  a  signal  of  war,  it  must 
be  looked  to.  Lead  the  way,  my  friend;  I  follow." 

On  issuing  from  their  place  of  confinement,  the  whole 
party  instantly  experienced  a  grateful  renovation  of  spir 
its,  by  exchanging  the  pent  air  of  the  hiding-place  for 
the  cool  and  invigorating  atmosphere,  which  played 
around  the  whirlpools  and  pitches  of  the  cataract.  A 
heavy  evening  breeze  swept  along  the  surface  of  the 
river,  and  seemed  to  drive  the  roar  of  the  falls  into 
the  recesses  of  their  own  caverns,  whence  it  issued  heavily 


82  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  constant,  like  thunder  rumbling  beyond  the  distant 
hills.  The  moon  had  risen,  and  its  light  was  already 
glancing  here  and  there  on  the  waters  above  them;  but 
the  extremity  of  the  rock  where  they  stood  still  lay  in 
shadow.  With  the  exception  of  the  sounds  produced  by 
the  rushing  waters,  and  an  occasional  breathing  of  the 
air,  as  it  murmured  past  them  in  fitful  currents,  the  scene 
^  ,  was  as  still  as  night  and  solitude  could  make  it.  In  vain 
were  the  eyes  of  each  individual  bent  along  the  opposite 
shores,  in  quest  of  some  signs  of  life,  that  might  explain 
the  nature  of  the  interruption  they  had  heard.  Their 
anxious  and  eager  looks  were  baffled  by  the  deceptive 
light,  or  rested  only  on  naked  rocks,  and  straight  and 
immovable  trees. 

"  There  is  nothing  to  be  seen  but  the  gloom  and  quiet 
of  a  lovely  evening,"  whispered  Duncan :  "  how  much 
should  we  prize  such  a  scene,  and  all  this  breathing  soli 
tude,  at  any  other  moment,  Cora!  Fancy  yourselves  in 
security,  and  what  now,  perhaps,  increases  your  terror, 
may  be  made  conducive  to  enjoyment — " 

"  Listen !  "  interrupted  Alice. 

The  caution  was  unnecessary.  Once  more  the  same 
sound  arose,  as  if  from  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  having 
broken  out  of  the  narrow  bounds  of  the  cliffs,  was  heard 
undulating  through  the  forest,  in  distant  and  dying 
cadences. 

"  Can  any  here  give  a  name*  to  such  a  cry?  "  demanded 
Hawkeye,  when  the  last  echo  was  lost  in  the  woods;  "  if 
so,  let  him  speak;  for  myself,  I  judge  it  not  to  belong 
to  'arth !  " 

"  Here,  then,  is  one  who  can  undeceive  you,"  said 
Duncan ;  "  I  know  the  sound  full  well,  for  often  have  I 
heard  it  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  in  situations  which 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  83 

are  frequent  in  a  soldier's  life.  'Tis  the  horrid  shriek 
that  a  horse  will  give  in  his  agony;  oftener  drawn  from 
him  in  pain,  though  sometimes  in  terror.  My.  charger 
is  either  a  prey  to  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  or  he  sees 
his  danger,  without  the  power  to  avoid  it.  The  sound 
might  deceive  me  in  the  cavern,  but  in  the  open  air  I 
know  it  too  well  to  be  wrong." 

The  scout  and  his  companions  listened  to  this  simple 
explanation  with  the  interest  of  men  who  imbibe  new 
ideas,  at  the  same  time  that  they  get  rid  of  old  ones, 
which  had  proved  disagreeable  inmates.  The  two  latter 
uttered  their  usual  and  expressive  exclamation,  "  Hugh !  " 
as  the  truth  first  glanced  upon  their  minds,  while  the 
former,  after  a  short  musing  pause,  took  upon  himself 
to  reply. 

"  I  cannot  deny  your  words/'  he  said ;  "  for  I  am  little 
skilled  in  horses,  though  born  where  they  abound.  The 
wolves  must  be  hovering  above  their  heads  on  the  bank, 
and  the  timorsome  creatures  are  calling  on  man  for  help, 
in  the  best  manner  they  are  able.  Uncas," — he  spoke 
in  Delaware — "  Uncas,  drop  down  in  the  canoe,  and  whirl 
a  brand  among  the  pack ;  or  fear  may  do  what  the  wolves 
can't  get  at  to  perform,  and  leave  us  without  horses  in 
the  morning,  when  we  shall  have  so  much  need  to  jour 
ney  swiftly !  " 

The  young  native  had  already  descended  to  the  water, 
to  comply,  when  a  long  howl  was  raised  on  the  edge  of 
the  river,  and  was  borne  swiftly  off  into  the  depths  of 
the  forest,  as  though  the  beasts,  of  their  own  accord, 
were  abandoning  their  prey  in  sudden  terror.  Uncas, 
with  instinctive  quickness,  receded,  and  the  three  for 
esters  held  another  of  their  low,  earnest  conferences. 

"  We  have  been  like  hunters  who  have  lost  the  points 


84  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

of  the  heavens,  and  from  whom  the  sun  has  been  hid  for 
days,"  said  Hawkeye,  turning  away  from  his  compan 
ions  ;  "  now  we  begin  again  to  --know  the  signs  of  our 
course,  and  the  paths  are  cleared  from  briers !  Seat 
yourselves  in  the  shade  which  the  moon  throws  from 
yonder  beech — 'tis  thicker  than  that  of  the  pines — and 
let  us  wait  for  that  which  the  Lord  may  choose  to  send 
next.  Let  all  your  conversation  be  in  whispers;  though 
it  would  be  better,  and  perhaps,  in  the  end,  wiser,  if  each 
one  held  discourse  with  his  own  thoughts,  for  a  time." 

The  manner  of  the  scout  was  seriously  impressive, 
though  no  longer  distinguished  by  any  signs  of  unmanly 
apprehension.  It  was  evident  that  his  momentary  weak 
ness  had  vanished  with  the  explanation  of  a  mystery 
which  his  own  experience  had  not  served  to  fathom; 
and  though  he  now  felt  all  the  realities  of  their  actual 
condition,  that  he  was  prepared  to  meet  them  with  the 
energy  of  his  hardy  nature.  This  feeling  seemed  also 
common  to  the  natives,  who  placed  themselves  in  posi 
tions  which  commanded  a  full  view  of  both  shores,  while 
their  own  persons  were  effectually  concealed  from  ob 
servation.  In  such  circumstances,  common  prudence  dic 
tated  that  Heyward  and  his  companions  should  imitate 
a  caution  that  proceeded  from  so  intelligent  a  source. 
The  young  man  drew  a  pile  of  the  sassafras  from  the 
cave,  and  placing  it  in  the  chasm  which  separated  the 
two  caverns,  it  was  occupied  by  the  sisters,  who  were 
thus  protected  by  the  rocks  from  any  missiles,  while 
their  anxiety  was  relieved  by  the  assurance  that  no  danger 
could  approach  without  a  warning.  Heyward  himself 
was  posted  at  hand,  so  near  that  he  might  communicate 
with  his  companions  without  raising  his  voice  to  a  dan 
gerous  elevation,  while  David,  in  imitation  of  the  woods- 


•  '  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  85 

men,  bestowed  his  person  in  such  a  manner  among  the 
fissures  of  the  rocks,  that  his  ungainly  limbs  were  no 
longer  offensive  to  the  eye. 

In  this  manner,  hours  passed  by  without  further  in 
terruption.  The  moon  reached  the  zenith,  and  shed  its 
mild  light  perpendicularly  on  the  lovely  sight  of  the  sis 
ters  slumbering  peacefully  in  each  other's  arms.  Dun 
can  cast  the  wide  shawl  of  Cora  before  a  spectacle  he 
so  much  loved  to  contemplate,  and  then  suffered  his 
own  head  to  seek  a  pillow  on  the  rock.  David  began  to 
utter  sounds  that  would  have  shocked  his  delicate  or 
gans  in  more  wakeful  moments;  in  short,  all  but  Hawk- 
eye  and  the  Mohicans  lost  every  idea  of  consciousness, 
in  uncontrollable  drowsiness.  But  the  watchfulness  of 
these  vigilant  protectors  neither  tired  nor  slumbered. 
Immovable  as  that  rock,  of  which  each  appeared  to  form 
a  part,  they  lay,  with  their  eyes  roving,  without  inter 
mission,  along  the  dark  margin  of  trees  that  bounded 
the  adjacent  shores  of  the  narrow  stream.  Not  a  sound 
escaped  them;  the  most  subtle  examination  could  not 
have  told  they  breathed.  It  was  evident  that  this  ex 
cess  of  caution  proceeded  from  an  experience  that  no 
subtlety  on  the  part  of  their  enemies  could  deceive.  It 
was,  however,  continued  without  any  apparent  conse 
quences,  until  the  moon  had  set,  and  a  pale  streak  above 
the  tree-tops,  at  the  bend  of  the  river  a  little  below,  an 
nounced  the  approach  of  day. 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  Hawkeye  was  seen  to  stir. 
He  crawled  along  the  rock,  and  shook  Duncan  from  his 
heavy  slumbers. 

"  Now  is  the  time  to  journey,"  he  whispered;  "  awake 
the  gentle  ones,  and  be  ready  to  get  into  the  canoe  when 
I  bring  it  to  the  landing-place." 


86  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Have  you  had  a  quiet  night?"  said  Hey  ward;  "  for 
myself,  I  believe  sleep  has  got  the  better  of  my  vigi 
lance." 

"  All  is  yet  still  as  midnight.     Be  silent,  but  be  quick." 

By  this  time  Duncan  was  thoroughly  awake,  and  he 
immediately  lifted  the  shawl  from  the  sleeping  females. 
The  motion  caused  Cora  to  raise  her  hand  as  if  to  re 
pulse  him,  while  Alice  murmured,  in  her  soft,  gentle 
voice,  "  No,  no,  dear  father,  we  were  not  deserted :  Dun 
can  was  with  us !  " 

"  Yes,  sweet  innocence,"  whispered  the  youth ;  "  Dun 
can  is  here,  and  while  life  continues  or  danger  remains, 
he  will  never  quit  thee.  Cora !  Alice !  awake !  The  hour 
has  come  to  move !  " 

A  loud  shriek  from  the  younger  of  the  sisters,  and 
the  form  of  the  other  standing  upright  before  him,  in 
bewildered  horror,  was  the  unexpected  answer  he  re 
ceived.  While  the  words  were  still  on  the  lips  of  Hey- 
ward,  there  had  arisen  such  a  tumult  of  yells  and  cries 
as  served  to  drive  the  swift  currents  of  his  own  blood  back 
from  its  bounding  course  into  the  fountains  of  his  heart. 
It  seemed,  for  near  a  minute,  as  if  the  demons  of  hell 
had  possessed  themselves  of  the  air  about  them,  and  were 
venting  their  savage  humors  in  barbarous  sounds.  The 
cries  came  from  no  particular  direction,  though  it  was 
evident  they  filled  the  woods,  and  as  the  appalled  lis 
teners  easily  imagined,  the  caverns  of  the  falls,  the  rocks, 
the  bed  of  the  river,  and  the  upper  air.  David  raised  his 
tall  person  in  the  midst  of  the  infernal  din,  with  a  hand 
on  either  ear,  exclaiming — 

"  Whence  comes  this  discord !  Has  hell  broke  loose, 
that  man  should  utter  sounds  like  these !  " 

The  bright  flashes  and  the  quick  reports  of  a  dozen 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  87 

rifles,  from  the  opposite  banks  of  the  stream,  followed 
this  incautious  exposure  of  his  person,  and  left  the  un 
fortunate  singing-master  senseless  on  that  rock  where  he 
had  been  so  long  slumbering.  The  Mohicans  boldly  sent 
back  the  intimidating  yell  of  their  enemies,  who  raised 
a  shout  of  savage  triumph  at  the  fall  of  Gamut.  The 
flash  of  rifles  was  then  quick  and  close  between  them,  but 
either  party  was  too  well  skilled  to  leave  even  a  limb 
exposed  to  the  hostile  aim.  Duncan  listened  with  intense 
anxiety  for  the  strokes  of  the  paddle,  believing  that  flight 
was  now  their  only  refuge.  The  river  glanced  by  with 
its  ordinary  velocity,  but  the  canoe  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen  on  its  dark  waters.  He  had  just  fancied  they  were 
cruelly  deserted  by  the  scout,  as  a  stream  of  flame  issued 
from  the  rock  beneath  him,  and  a  fierce  yell,  blended 
with  a  shriek  of  agony,  announced  that  the  messenger 
of  death,  sent  from  the  fatal  weapon  of  Hawkeye,  had 
found  a  victim.  At  this  slight  repulse  the  assailants  in 
stantly  withdrew,  and  gradually  the  place  became  as  still 
as  before  the  sudden  tumult. 

Duncan  seized  the  favorable  moment  to  spring  to  the 
body  of  Gamut,  which  he  bore  within  the  shelter  of  the 
narrow  chasm  that  protected  the  sisters.  In  another  min 
ute  the  whole  party  was  collected  in  this  spot  of  com 
parative  safety. 

'  The  poor  fellow  has  saved  his  scalp,"  said  Hawk- 
eye,  coolly  passing  his  hand  over  the  head  of  David; 
"  but  he  is  a  proof  that  a  man  may  be  born  with  too  v 
long  a  tongue!  Twas  downright  madness  to  show  six 
feet  of  flesh  and  blood,  on  a  naked  rock,  to  the  raging 
savages.  I  only  wonder  he  has  escaped  with  life." 

"  Is  he  not  dead !  "  demanded  Cora,  in  a  voice  whose 
husky  tones  showed  how  powerfully  natural  horror 


88  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

struggled_with  her  assumed  firmness.  "  Can  we  do  aught 
to  assist  the  wretched  man?""" 

"  No,  no !  the  life  is  in  his  heart  yet,  and  after  he  has 
slept  awhile  he  will  come  to  himself,  and  be  a  wiser  man 
for  it,  till  the  hour  of  his  real  time  shall  come,"  re 
turned  Hawkeye,  casting  another  oblique  glance  at  the 
insensible  body,  while  he  filled  his  charger  with  admi 
rable  nicety.  "  Carry  him  in,  Uncas,  and  lay  him  on  the 
sassafras.  The  longer  his  nap  lasts  the  better  it  will  be 
for*him,  as  I  doubt  whether  he  can  find  a  proper  cover 
for  such  a  shape  on  these  rocks ;  and  singing  won't  do 
any  good  with  the  Iroquois." 

"  You  believe,  then,  the  attack  will  be  renewed  ?  "  asked 
Heyward. 

"  Do  I  expect  a  hungry  wolf  will  satisfy  his  craving 
with  a  mouthful !  They  have  lost  a  man,  and  'tis  their 
fashion,  when  they  meet  a  loss,  and  fail  in  the  surprise, 
to  fall  back;  but  we  shall  have  them  on  again,  with  new 
expedients  to  circumvent  us,  and  master  our  scalps.  Our 
main  hope,"  he  continued,  raising  his  rugged  counte 
nance,  across  which  a  shade  of  anxiety  just  then  passed 
like  a  darkening  cloud,  "  will  be  to  keep  the  rock  until 
Munro  can  send  a  party  to  our  help!  God  send  it  may 
be  soon,  and  under  a  leader  that  knows  the  Indian 
customs !  " 

"  You  hear  our  probable  fortunes,  Cora,"  said  Dun 
can,  "  and  you  know  we  have  everything  to  hope  from 
the  anxiety  and  experience  of  your  father.  Come,  then, 
with  Alice,  into  this  cavern,  where  you,  at  least,  will  be 
safe  from  the  murderous  rifles  of  our  enemies  and  where 
you  may  bestow  a  care  suited  to  your  gentle  natures  on 
our  unfortunate  comrade." 

The  sisters  followed  him  into  the  outer  cave,  where 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  89 

David  was  beginning,  by  his  sighs,  to  give  symptoms  of 
returning  consciousness;  and  then  commending  the 
wounded  man  to  their  attention,  he  immediately  prepared 
to  leave  them. 

"  Duncan !  "  said  the  tremulous  voice  of  Cora,  when 
he  had  reached  the  mouth  of  the  cavern.  He  turned,  and 
beheld  the  speaker,  whose  color  had  changed  to  a  deadly 
paleness,  and  whose  lip  quivered,  gazing  after  him,  with 
an  expression  of  interest  which  immediately  recalled  him 
to  her  side.  "  Remember,  Duncan,  how  necessary  your 
safety  is  to  our  own — how  you  bear  a  father's  sacred 
trust — how  much  depends  on  your  discretion  and 
care — in  short/'  she  added,  while  the  tell-tale  blood  stole 
over  her  features,  crimsoning  her  very  temples,  "  how 
very  deservedly  dear  you  are  to  all  of  the  name  of 
Munro." 

"  If  anything  could  add  to  my  own  base  love  of  life," 
said  Heyward,  suffering  his  unconscious  eyes  to  wander 
to  the  youthful  form  of  the  silent  Alice,  "  it  would  be  so 
kind  an  assurance.  As  major  of  the  6oth,  our  honest 
host  will  tell  you  I  must  take  my -share  of  the  fray;  but 
our  task  will  be  easy;  it  is  merely  to  keep  these  blood 
hounds  at  bay  for  a  few  hours." 

Without  waiting  for  reply,  he  tore  himself  from  the 
presence  of  the  sisters,  and  joined  the  scout  and  his 
companions,  who  still  lay  within  the  protection  of  the 
little  chasm  between  the  two  caves. 

"  I  tell  you,  Uncas,"  said  the  former,  as  Heyward 
joined  them,  "  you  are  wasteful  of  your  powder,  and 
the  kick  of  the  rifle  disconcerts  your  aim!  Little  pow 
der,  light  lead,  and  a  long  arm,  seldom  fail  of  bringing 
the  death  screech  from  a  Mingo!  At  least,  such  has 
been  my  experience  with  the  creatur's.  Come,  friends ; 


90  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

let  us  to  our  covers,  for  no  man  can  tell  when  or  where 
a  Maqua  *  will  strike  his  blow." 

The  Indians  silently  repaired  to  their  appointed  sta 
tions,  which  were  fissures  in  the  rocks,  whence  they 
could  command  the  approaches  to  the  foot  of  the  falls. 
In  the  center  of  the  little  island,  a  few  short  and  stunted 
pines  had  found  root;  forming  a  thicket,  into  which 
Hawkeye  darted  with  the  swiftness  of  a  deer,  followed 
by  the  active  Duncan.  Here  they  secured  themselves, 
as  well  as  circumstances  would  permit,  among  the  shrubs 
and  fragments  of  stone  that  were  scattered  about  the 
place.  Above  them  was  a  bare,  rounded  rock,  on  each 
side  of  which  the  water  played  its  gambols,  and  plunged 
into  the  abysses  beneath,  in  the  manner  already  described. 
As  the  day  had  now  dawned,  the  opposite  shores  no  longer 
presented  a  confused  outline,  but  they  were  able  to  look 
into  the  woods,  and  distinguish  objects  beneath  the  can 
opy  of  gloomy  pines. 

A  long  and  anxious  watch  succeeded,  but  without  any 
further  evidences  of  a  renewed  attack;  and  Duncan  be 
gan  to  hope  that  their  fire  had  proved  more  fatal  than 
was  supposed,  and  that  their  enemies  had  been  effectu 
ally  repulsed.  When  he  ventured  to  utter  this  impression 
to  his  companion,  it  was  met  by  Hawkeye  with  an  in 
credulous  shake  of  the  head. 

"  You  know  not  the  nature  of  a  Maqua,  if  you  think 
he  is  so  easily  beaten  back  without  a  scalp !  "  he  an 
swered.  "  If  there  was  one  of  the  imps  yelling  this 
morning,  there  were  forty!  and  they  know  our  number 
and  quality  too  well  to  give  up  the  chase  so  soon.  Hist ! 

1  Mingo  was  the  Delaware  term  for  the  Five  Nations.  Maquas 
was  the  name  given  them  by  the  Dutch.  The  French,  from 
their  first  intercourse  with  them,  called  them  Iroquois. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  91 

look  into  the  water  above,  just  where  it  breaks  over  the 
rocks.  I  am  no  mortal,  if  the  risky  devils  haven't  swam 
down  upon  the  very  pitch,  and,  as  bad  luck  would  have 
it,  they  have  hit  the  head  of  the  island.  Hist !  man,  keep 
close!  or  the  hair  will  be  off  your  crown  in  the  turning 
of  a  knife !  " 

Heyward  lifted  his  head  from  the  cover,  and  beheld 
what  he  justly  considered  a  prodigy  of  rashness  and 
skill.  The  river  had  worn  away  the  edge  of  the  soft 
rock  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  render  its  first  pitch  less 
abrupt  and  perpendicular  than  is  usual  at  waterfalls. 
With  no  other  guide  than  the  ripple  of  the  stream  where 
it  met  the  head  of  the  island,  a  party  of  their  insatiable 
foes  had  ventured  into  the  current,  and  swam  down  upon 
this  point,  knowing  the  ready  access  it  would  give,  if 
successful,  to  their  intended  victims.  As  Hawkeye  ceased 
speaking,  four  human  heads  could  be  seen  peering  above 
a  few  logs  of  drift-wood  that  had  lodged  on  these  naked 
rocks,  and  which  had  probably  suggested  the  idea  of  the 
practicability  of  the  hazardous  undertaking.  At  the  next 
moment,  a  fifth  form  was  seen  floating  over  the  green 
edge  of  the  fall,  a  little  from  the  line  of  the  island.  The 
savage  struggled  powerfully  to  gain  the  point  of  safety, 
and,  favored  by  the  glancing  water,  he  was  already 
stretching  forth  an  arm  to  meet  the  grasp  of  his  com 
panions,  when  he  shot  away  again  with  the  whirling 
current,  appeared  to  rise  into  the  air,  with  uplifted  arms 
and  starting  eyeballs,  and  fell,  with  a  sullen  plunge,  into 
that  deep  and  yawning  abyss  over  which  he  hovered.  A 
single,  wild,  despairing  shriek  rose  from  the  cavern,  and 
all  was  hushed  again,  as  the  grave. 

The  first  generous  impulse  of  Duncan  was  to  rush  to 
the  rescue  of  the  hapless  wretch;  but  he  felt  himself 


92  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

bound  to  the  spot  by  the  iron  grasp  of  the  immovable 
scout. 

"  Would  ye  bring  certain  death  upon  us,  by  telling  the 
Mingos  where  we  lie  ? "  demanded  Hawkeye,  sternly ; 
'''  'tis  a  charge  of  powder  saved,  and  ammunition  is  as 
precious  now  as  breath  to  a  worried  deer !  Freshen  the 
priming  of  your  pistols — the  mist  of  the  falls  is  apt  to 
dampen  the  brimstone — and  stand  firm  for  a  close  strug 
gle,  while  I  fire  on  their  rush." 

He  placed  his  finger  in  his  mouth,  and  drew  a  long, 
shrill  whistle,  which  was  answered  from  the  rocks  that 
were  guarded  by  the  Mohicans.  Duncan  caught  glimpses 
of  heads  above  the  scattered  drift-wood,  as  this  signal 
rose  on  the  air,  but  they  disappeared  again  as  suddenly 
as  they  had  glanced  upon  his  sight.  A  low,  rustling  sound 
next  drew  his  attention  behind  him,  and  turning  his  head, 
he  beheld  Uncas  within  a  few  feet,  creeping  to  his  side. 
Hawkeye  spoke  to  him  in  Delaware,  when  the  young 
chief  took  his  position  with  singular  caution  and  undis 
turbed  coolness.  To  Heyward  this  was  a  moment  of 
feverish  and  impatient  suspense;  though  the  scout  saw 
fit  to  select  it  as  a  fit  occasion  to  read  a  lecture  to  his 
more  youthful  associates  on  the  art  of  using  firearms 
with  discretion. 

"  Of  all  we'pons,"  he  commenced,  "  the  long-barreled, 
true-grooved,  soft-metaled  rifle  is  the  most  dangerous  in 
skilful  hands,  though  it  wants  a  strong  arm,  a  quick  eye, 
and  great  judgment  in  charging,  to  put  forth  all  its  beau 
ties.  The  gunsmiths  can  have  but  little  insight  into  their 
trade,  when  they  make  their  fowling-pieces  and  short 
horsemen's — " 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  low  but  expressive 
"  Hugh !  "  of  Uncas. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  93 

"  I  see  them,  boy,  I  see  them !  "  continued  Hawkeye ; 
"  they  are  gathering  for  the  rush,  or  they  would  keep 
their  dingy  backs  below  the  logs.  Well,  let  them,"  he 
added,  examining  his  flint ;  "  the  leading  man  certainly 
comes  on  to  his  death,  though  it  should  be  Montcalm 
himself !  " 

At  that  moment  the  woods  were  filled  with  another 
burst  of  cries,  and  at  the  signal  four  savages  sprang  from 
the  cover  of  the  drift-wood.  Hey  ward  felt  a  burning  de 
sire  to  rush  forward  to  meet  them,  so  intense  was  the 
delirious  anxiety  of  the  moment;  but  he  was  restrained 
by  the  deliberate  examples  of  the  scout  and  Uncas.  When 
their  foes  who  leaped  over  the  black  rock  that  divided 
them,  with  long  bounds,  uttering  the  wildest  yells,  were 
within  a  few  rods,  the  rifle  of  Hawkeye  slowly  rose 
among  the  shrubs,  and  poured  out  its  fatal  contents. 
The  foremost  Indian  bounded  like  a  stricken  deer,  and 
fell  headlong  among  the  clefts  of  the  island. 

"  Now,  Uncas !  "  cried  the  scout,  drawing  his  long 
knife,  while  his  quick  eyes  began  to  flash  with  ardor, 
"take  the  last  of  the  screeching  imps;  of  the  other  two 
we  are  sartain !  " 

He  was  obeyed;  and  but  two  enemies  remained  to  be 
overcome.  Heyward  had  given  one  of  his  pistols  to 
Hawkeye,  and  together  they  rushed  down  a  little  decliv 
ity  towards  their  foes;  they  discharged  their  weapons  at 
the  same  instant,  and  equally  without  success. 

"  I  know'd  it !  and  I  said  it !  "  muttered  the  scout, 
whirling  the  despised  little  implement  over  the  falls  with 
bitter  disdain.  "  Come  on,  ye  bloody  minded  hell-hounds ! 
ye  meet  a  man  without  a  cross !  " 

The  words  were  barely  uttered,  when  he  encountered 
a  savage  of  gigantic  stature,  and  of  the  fiercest  mien. 


94  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

At  the  same  moment,  Duncan  found  himself  engaged 
with  the  other,  in  a  similar  contest  of  hand  to  hand. 
With  ready  skill,  Hawkeye  and  his  antagonist  each 
grasped  that  uplifted  arm  of  the  other  which  held  the 
dangerous  knife.  For  near  a  minute  they  stood  looking 
one  another  in  the  eye,  and  gradually  exerting  the  power 
of  their  muscles  for  the  mastery.  At  length,  the  tough 
ened  sinews  of  the  white  man  prevailed  over  the  less 
practised  limbs  of  the  native.  The  arm  of  the  latter 
slowly  gave  way  before  the  increasing  force  of  the  scout, 
who,  suddenly  wresting  his  armed  hand  from  the  grasp 
of  the  foe,  drove  the  sharp  weapon  through  his  naked 
bosom  to  the  heart.  In  the  meantime  Heyward  had  been 
pressed  in  a  more  deadly  struggle.  His  slight  sword 
was  snapped  in  the  first  encounter.  As  he  was  destitute 
of  any  other  means  of  defense,  his  safety  now  depended 
entirely  on  bodily  strength  and  resolution.  Though  defi 
cient  in  neither  of  these  qualities,  he  had  met  an  enemy 
every  way  his  equal.  Happily,  he  soon  succeeded  in 
disarming  his  adversary,  whose  knife  fell  on  the  rock 
at  their  feet;  and  from  this  moment  it  became  a  fierce 
struggle,  who  should  cast  the  other  over  the  dizzy  height 
into  a  neighboring  cavern  of  the  falls.  Every  successive 
struggle  brought  them  nearer  to  the  verge,  where  Duncan 
perceived  the  final  and  conquering  effort  must  be  made. 
Each  of  the  combatants  threw  all  his  energies  into  that 
effort,  and  the  result  was,  that  both  tottered  on  the  brink 
of  the  precipice.  Heyward  felt  the  grasp  of  the  other 
at  his  throat,  and  saw  the  grim  smile  the  savage  gave, 
under  the  revengeful  hope  that  he  hurried  his  enemy  to 
a  fate  similar  to  his  own,  as  he  felt  his  body  slowly  yield 
ing  to  a  resistless  power,  and  the  young  man  experienced 
the  passing  agony  of  such  a  moment  in  all  its  horrors. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  95 

At  that  instant  of  extreme  danger,  a  dark  hand  and  glanc 
ing  knife  appeared  before  him;  the  Indian  released  his 
hold,  as  the  blood  flowed  freely  from  around  the  severed 
tendons  of  the  wrist ;  and  while  Duncan  was  drawn  back 
ward  by  the  saving  arm  of  Uncas,  his  charmed  eyes  were 
still  riveted  on  the  fierce  and  disappointed  countenance 
of  his  foe,  who  fell  sullenly  and  disappointed  down  the 
irrecoverable  precipice. 

"  To  cover!  to  cover!  "  cried  Hawkeye,  who  just  then 
had  despatched  the  enemy ;  "  to  cover,  for  your  lives ! 
the  work  is  but  half  ended !  " 

The  young  Mohican  gave  a  shout  of  triumph,  and, 
followed  by  Duncan,  he  glided  up  the  acclivity  they  had 
descended  to  the  combat,  and  sought  the  friendly  shelter 
of  the  rocks  and  shrubs. 


CHAPTER 
VIII. 


"  They  linger  yet, 
Avengers  of  their  native  land." 

GRAY. 

THE  warning  call  of  the  scout  was  not  uttered  with 
out  occasion.  During  the  occurrence  of  the  deadly 
encounter  just  related,  the  roar  of  the  falls  was  unbroken 
by  any  human  sound  whatever.  It  would  seem  that  in 
terest  in  the  result  had  kept  the  natives  on  the  opposite 
shores  in  breathless  suspense,  while  the  quick  evolutions 
and  swift  changes  in  the  position  of  the  combatants, 
effectually  prevented  a  fire  that  might  prove  dangerous 
alike  to  friend  and  enemy.  But  the  moment  the  struggle 
was  decided,  a  yell  arose  as  fierce  and  savage  as  wild 
and  revengeful  passions  could  throw  into  the  air.  It 
was  followed  by  the  swift  flashes  of  the  rifles,  which  sent 
their  leaden  messengers  across  the  rock  in  volleys,  as 
though  the  assailants  would  pour  out  their  impotent  fury 
on  the  insensible  scene  of  the  fatal  contest. 

A  steady,  though  deliberate  return  was  made  from  the 
rifle  of  Chingachgook,  who  had  maintained  his  post 
throughout  the  fray  with  unmoved  resolution.  When 

96 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  97 

the  triumphant  shout  of  Uncas  was  borne  to  his  ears, 
the  gratified  father  raised  his  voice  in  a  single  responsive 
cry,  after  which  his  busy  piece  alone  proved  that  he  still 
guarded  his  pass  with  unwearied  diligence.  In  this  man 
ner  many  minutes  flew  by  with  the  swiftness  of  thought : 
the  rifles  of  the  assailants  speaking,  at  times,  in  rattling 
volleys,  and  at  others,  in  occasional,  scattering  shots. 
Though  the  rock,  the  trees,  and  the  shrubs,  were  cut  and 
torn  in  a  hundred  places  around  the  besieged,  their  cover 
was  so  close,  and  so  rigidly  maintained,  that,  as  yet, 
David  had  been  the  only  sufferer  in  their  little  band. 

"  Let  them  burn  their  powder,"  said  the  deliberate 
scout,  while  bullet  after  bullet  whizzed  by  the  place 
where  he  securely  lay ;  "  there  will  be  a  fine  gathering 
of  lead  when  it  is  over,  and  I  fancy  the  imps  will  tire 
of  the  sport,  afore  these  old  stones  cry  out  for  mercy! 
Uncas,  boy,  you  waste  the  kernels  by  overcharging:  and 
a  kicking  rifle  never  carries  a  true  bullet.  I  told  you 
to  take  that  loping  miscreant  under  the  line  of  white 
paint ;  now,  if  your  bullet  went  a  hair's  breadth,  it  went 
two  inches  above  it.  The  life  lies  low  in  a  Mingo,  and 
humanity  teaches  us  to  make  a  quick  end  of  the 
sarpents." 

A  quiet  smile  lighted  the  haughty  features  of  the 
young  Mohican,  betraying  his  knowledge  of  the  English 
language,  as  well  as  of  the  other's  meaning;  but  he  suf 
fered  it  to  pass  away  without  vindication  or  reply. 

"  I  cannot  permit  you  to  accuse  Uncas  of  want  of 
judgment  or  of  skill,"  said  Duncan;  "  he  saved  my  life 
in  the  coolest  and  readiest  manner,  and  he  has  made  a 
friend  who  never  will  require  to  be  reminded  of  the  debt 
he  owes." 

Uncas  partly   raised  his  body,   and  offered  his  hand 


98  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

to  the  grasp  of  Heyward.  During  this  act  of  friendship, 
the  two  young  men  exchanged  looks  of  intelligence  which 
caused  Duncan  to  forget  the  character  and  condition  of 
his  wild  associate.  In  the  meanwhile,  Hawkeye,  who 
looked  on  this  burst  of  youthful  feeling  with  a  cool  but 
kind  rega-rd,  made  the  following  reply: — 

"  Life  is  an  obligation  which  friends  often  owe  each 
other  in  the  wilderness.  I  dare  say  I  may  have  served 
Uncas  some  such  turn  myself  before  now;  and  I  very 
well  remember  that  he  has  stood  between  me  and  death 
five  different  times :  three  times  from  the  Mingos,  once 
in  crossing  Horican,  and — " 

'''  That  bullet  was  better  aimed  than  common !  "  ex 
claimed  Duncan,  involuntarily  shrinking  from  a  shot 
which  struck  the  rock  at  his  side  with  a  smart  rebound. 

Hawkeye  laid  his  hand  on  the  shapeless  metal,  and 
shook  his  head,  as  he  examined  it,  saying,  "  Falling  lead 
is  never  flattened!  had  it  come  from  the  clouds  this 
might  have  happened !  " 

But  the  rifle  of  Uncas  was  deliberately  raised  towards 
the  heavens,  directing  his  companions  to  a  point,  where 
the  mystery  was  immediately  explained.  A  ragged  oak 
grew  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  to 
their  position,  which,  seeking  the  freedom  of  the  open 
space,  had  inclined  so  far  forward,  that  its  upper 
branches  overhung  that  arm  of  the  stream  which  flowed 
nearest  to  its  own  shore.  Among  the  topmost  leaves, 
which  scantily  concealed  the  gnarled  and  stunted  limbs, 
a  savage  was  nestled,  partly  concealed  by  the  trunk  of  the 
tree,  and  partly  exposed,  as  though  looking  down  upon 
them  to  ascertain  the  effect  produced  by  his  treacher 
ous  aim. 

"  These  devils  will  scale  heaven  to  circumvent  us  tr 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  99 

our  ruin,"  said  Hawkeye ;  "  keep  him  in  play,  boy,  until 
I  can  bring  '  Killdeer  '  to  bear,  when  we  will  try  his 
metal  on  each  side  of  the  tree  at  once." 

Uncas  delayed  his  fire  until  the  scout  uttered  the  word. 
The  rifles  flashed,  the  leaves  and  the  bark  of  the  oak 
flew  into  the  air,  and  were  scattered  by  the  wind,  but 
the  Indian  answered  their  assault  by  a  taunting  laugh, 
sending  down  upon  them  another  bullet  in  return,  that 
struck  the  cap  of  Hawkeye  from  his  head.  Once  more 
the  savage  yells  burst  out  of  the  woods,  and  the  leaden 
hail  whistled  above  the  heads  of  the  besieged,  as  if  to 
confine  them  to  a  place  where  they  might  become  easy 
victims  to  the  enterprise  of  the  warrior  who  had  mounted 
the  tree. 

"  This  must  be  looked  to !  "  said  the  scout,  glancing 
about  him  with  an  anxious  eye.  "  Uncas,  call  up  your 
father^ we  have  need  of  all  our  weapons  to  bring  the 
cunning  varmint  from  his  roost." 

The  signal  was  instantly  given;  and,  before  Hawkeye 
had  reloaded  his  rifle,  they  were  joined  by  Chingachgook. 
When  his  son  pointed  out  to  the  experienced  warrior  the 
situation  of  their  dangerous  enemy,  the  usual  exclama 
tory  "  Hugh !  "  burst  from  his  lips ;  after  which,  no 
further  expression  of  surprise  or  alarm  was  suffered  to 
escape  him.  Hawkeye  and  the  Mohicans  conversed 
earnestly  together  in  Delaware  for  a  few  moments,  when 
each  quietly  took  his  post,  in  order  to  execute  the  plan 
they  had  speedily  devised. 

The  warrior  in  the  oak  had  maintained  a  quick,  though 
ineffectual  fire,  from  the  moment  of  his  discovery.  But 
his  aim  was  interrupted  by  the  vigilance  of  his  enemies, 
whose  rifles  instantaneously  bore  on  any  part  of  his  per 
son  that  was  left  exposed.  Still  his  bullets  fell  in  the 


ioo  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

center  of  the  crouching  party.  The  clothes  of  Heyward, 
which  rendered  him  peculiarly  conspicuous,  were  repeat 
edly  cut,  and  once  blood  was  drawn  from  a  slight  wound 
in  his  arm. 

At  length,  emboldened  by  the  long  and  patient  watch 
fulness  of  his  enemies,  the  Huron  attempted  a  better  and 
more  fatal  aim.  The  quick  eye  of  the  Mohicans  caught 
the  dark  line  of  his  lower  limbs  incautiously  exposed 
through  the  thin  foliage,  a  few  inches  from  the  trunk 
of  the  tree.  Their  rifles  made  a  common  report,  when, 
sinking  on  his  wounded  limb,  part  of  the  body  of  the 
savage  came  into  view.  Swift  as  thought,  Hawkeye 
seized  the  advantage  and  discharged  his  fatal  weapon 
into  the  top  of  the  oak.  The  leaves  were  unusually  agi 
tated;  the  dangerous  rifle  fell  from  its  commanding  ele 
vation,  and  after  a  few  moments  of  vain  struggling,  the 
form  of  the  savage  was  seen  swinging  in  the  wind,  while 
he  still  grasped  a  ragged  and  naked  branch  of  the  tree, 
with  hands  clenched  in  desperation. 

"  Give  him,  in  pity  give  him — the  contents  of  another 
rifle !  "  cried  Duncan,  turning  away  his  eyes  in  horror 
from  the  spectacle  of  a  fellow-creature  in  such  awful 
jeopardy. 

"  Not  a  karnel !  "  exclaimed  the  obdurate  Hawkeye  ; 
"  his  death  is  certain,  and  we  have  no  powder  to  spare, 
for  Indian  fights  sometimes  last  for  days;  'tis  their 
scalps  or  ours! — and  God,  who  made  us,  has  put  into 
our  natures  the  craving  to  keep  the  skin  on  the 
head!" 

Against  this  stern  and  unyielding  morality,  supported 
as  it  was  by  such  visible  policy,  there  was  no  appeal. 
From  that  moment  the  yells  in  the  forest  once  more 
ceased,  the  fire  was  suffered  to  decline,  and  all  eyes, 


The  Last  of  the  JN/lohicans  101 

those  of  friends  as  well  as  enemies,  became  fixed  on  the 
hopeless  condition  of  the  wretch,  who  was  dangling  be 
tween  hea_v^ri_anjd--«afth.  The  body  yielded  to  the  cur- 
rents  of  air,  and  though  no  murmur  or  groan  escaped 
the  victim,  there  were  instants  when-  he  grimly  faced  his 
foes,  and  the  anguish  of  cold  despair  might  be  traced, 
through  the  intervening  distance,  in  possession  of  his 
swarthy  lineaments.  Three  several  times  the  scout 
raised  his  piece  in  mercy,  and  as  often  prudence  getting 
the  better  of  his  intention,  it  was  again  silently  lowered. 
At  length  one  hand  of  the  Huron  lost  its  hold,  and 
dropped  exhausted  to  his  side.  A  desperate  and  fruit 
less  struggle  to  recover  the  branch  succeeded,  and  then 
the  savage  was  seen  for  a  fleeting  instant,  grasping  wildly 
at  the  empty  air.  The  lightning  is  not  quicker  than  was 
the  flame  from  the  rifle  of  Hawkeye;  the  limbs  of  the 
victim  trembled  and  contracted,  the  head  fell  to  the 
bosom,  and  the  body  parted  the  foaming  waters  like  lead 
when  the  element  closed  above  it,  in  its  ceaseless  velocity, 
and  every  vestige  of  the  unhappy  Huron  was  lost 
forever. 

No  shout  of  triumph  succeeded  this  important  ad 
vantage,  but  even  the  Mohicans  gazed  at  each  other  in 
silent  horror.  A  single  yell  burst  from  the  woods,  and 
all  was  again  still.  Hawkeye,  who  alone  appeared  to 
reason  on  the  occasion,  shook  his  head  at  his  own  mo 
mentary  weakness,  even  uttering  his  self-disapprobation 
aloud. 

'  'Twas  the  last  charge  in  my  horn,  and  the  last  bullet 
in  my  pouch,  and  'twas  the  act  of  a  boy !  "  he  said ; 
"  what  mattered  it  whether  he  struck  the  rock  living  or 
dead!  feeling  would  soon  be  over.  Uncas,  lad,  go  down 
jtp  the  cvanoe,  and  bring  up  the  big  horn ;  it  is  all  the  pow- 


IO2  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

der  we  have  left,  and  we  shall  need  it  to  the  last  grain, 
or  I  am  ignorant  of  the  Mingo  nature." 

The  young  Mohican  complied,  leaving  the  scout  turn 
ing  over  the  useless  contents  of  his  pouch,  and  shaking 
the  empty  horn  with  renewed  discontent.  From  this  un 
satisfactory  examination,  however,  he  was  soon  called 
by  a  loud  and  piercing  exclamation  from  Uncas,  that 
sounded,  even  to  the  unpractised  ears  of  Duncan,  as  the 
signal  of  some  new  and  unexpected  calamity.  Every 
thought  rilled  with  apprehension  for  the  precious  treasure 
he  had  concealed  in  the  cavern,  the  young  man  started 
to  his  feet,  totally  regardless  of  the  hazard  he  incurred 
by  such  an  exposure.  As  if  actuated  by  a  common  im 
pulse,  his  movement  was  imitated  by  his  companions, 
and,  together,  they  rushed  down  the  pass  to  the  friendly 
chasm,  with  a  rapidity  that  rendered  the  scattering  fire 
of  their  enemies  perfectly  harmless.  The  unwonted  cry 
had  brought  the  sisters,  together  with  the  wounded 
David,  from  their  place  of  refuge ;  and  the  whole  party, 
at  a  single  glance,  was  made  acquainted  with  the  nature 
of  the  disaster  that  had  disturbed  even  the  practised  sto 
icism  of  their  youthful  Indian  protector. 

At  a  short  distance  from  the  rock,  their  little  bark  was 
to  be  seen  floating  across  the  -eddy,  towards  the  swift 
current  of  the  river,  in  a  manner  which  proved  that  its 
course  was  directed  by  some  hidden  agent.  The  instant 
this  unwelcome  sight  caught  the  eye  of  the  scout,  his 
rifle  was  leveled  as  by  instinct,  but  the  barrel  gave  no 
answer  to  the  bright  sparks  of  the  flint. 

"  'Tis  too  late,  'tis  too  late !  "  Hawkeye  exclaimed, 
dropping  the  useless  piece  in  bitter  disappointment ;  "  the 
miscreant  has  struck  the  rapid ;  and  had  we  powder,  it 
could  hardly  send  the  lead  swifter  than  he  now  goes !  " 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  103 

The  adventurous  Huron  raised  his  head  above  the 
shelter  of  the  canoe,  and  while  it  glided  swiftly  down 
the  stream,  he  waved"  his  hand,  and  gave  forth  the  shout, 
which  was  the  known  signal  of  success.  His  cry  was 
answered  by  a  yell  and  a  laugh  from  the  woods,  as 
tauntingly  exulting  as  if  fifty  demons  were  uttering  their 
blasphemies  at  the  fall  of  some  Christian  soul. 

"  Well  may  you  laugh,  ye  children  of  the  devil !  "  said 
the  scout,  seating  himself  on  a  projection  of  the  rock, 
and  suffering  his  gun  to  fall  neglected  at  his  feet,  "  for 
the  three  quickest  and  surest  rifles  in  these  woods  are 
no  better  than  so  many  stalks  of  mullein,  or  the  last 
year's  horns  of  a  buck !  " 

"  What  is  to  be  done?  "  demanded  Duncan,  losing  the 
first  feeling  of  disappointment  in  a  more  manly  desire 
for  exertion;  "what  will  become  of  us?" 

Hawkeye  made  no  other  reply  than  by  passing  his 
finger  around  the  crown  of  his  head,  in  a  manner  so 
significant,  that  none  who  witnessed  the  action  could 
mistake  its  meaning. 

"  Surely,  surely,  our  case  is  not  so  desperate !  "  ex 
claimed  the  youth ;  "  the  Hurons  are  not  here ;  we  may 
make  good  the  caverns ;  we  may  oppose  their  landing." 

"With  what?"  coolly  demanded  the  scout.  "The 
arrows  of  Uncas,  or  such  tears  as  women  shed!  No, 
no;  you  are  young,  and  rich,  and  have  friends,  and  at 
such  an  age  I  know  it  is  hard  to  die.  But,"  glancing  his 
eyes  at  the  Mohicans,  "  let  us  remember  we  are  men 
without  a  cross,  and  let  us  teach  these  natives  of  the  for 
est  that  white  blood  can  run  as  freely  as  red,  when  the 
appointed  hour  is  come." 

Duncan  turned  quickly  in  the  direction  indicated  by 
the  other's  eyes,  and  read  a  confirmation  of  his  worst 


104  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

apprehensions  in  the  conduct  of  the  Indians.  Chingach- 
gook,  placing  himself  in  a  dignified  posture  on  another 
fragment  of  the  rock,  had  already  laid  aside  his  knife 
and  tomahawk,  and  was  in  the  act  of  taking  the  eagle's 
plume  from  his  head,  and  smoothing  the  solitary  tuft 
of  hair  in  readiness  to  perform  its  last  and  revolting  of 
fice.  His  countenance  was  composed,  though  thoughtful, 
while  his  dark  gleaming  eyes  were  gradually  losing  the 
fierceness  of  the  combat  in  an  expression  better  suited 
to  the  change  he  expected  momentarily  to  undergo. 

"  Our  case  is  not,  cannot  be  so  hopeless !  "  said  Dun 
can  ;  "  even  at  this  moment  succor  may  be  at  hand.  I 
see  no  enemies !  they  have  sickened  of  a  struggle  in  which 
they  risk  so  much  with  so  little  prospect  of  gain !  " 

"  It  may  be  a  minute,  or  it  may  be  an  hour,  afore  the 
wily  sarpents  steal  upon  us,  and  it  is  quite  in  natur'  for 
them  to  be  lying  within  hearing  at  this  very  moment," 
said  Hawkeye ;  "  but  come  they  will,  and  in  such  a  fash 
ion  as  will  leave  us  nothing  to  hope !  Chingachgook  " — 
he  spoke  in  Delaware — "  my  brother,  we  have  fought  our 
last  battle  together,  and  the  Maquas  will  triumph  in  the 
death  of  the  sage  man  of  the  Mohicans,  and  of  the  pale 
face,  whose  eyes  can  make  night  as  day,  and  level  the 
clouds  to  the  mists  of  the  springs !  " 

"  Let  the  Mingo  women  go  weep  over  their  slain !  " 
returned  the  Indian,  with  characteristic  pride  and  un 
moved  firmness ;  "  the  Great  Snake  of  the  Mohicans  has 
coiled  himself  in  their  wigwams,  and  has  poisoned  their 
triumph  with  the  waitings  of  children  whose  fathers  have 
not  returned!  Eleven  warriors  lie  hid  from  the  graves 
of  their  tribes  since  the  snows  have  melted,  and  none  will 
tell  where  to  find  them  when  the  tongue  of  Chingach 
gook  shall  be  silent!  Let  them  draw  the  sharpest  knife, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  105 

and  whirl  the  swiftest  tomahawk,  for  their  bitterest 
enemy  is  in  their  hands.  Uncas,  topmost  branch  of  a 
noble  trunk,  call  on  the  cowards  to  hasten  or  their  hearts 
will  soften,  and  they  will  change  to  women !  " 

"  They  look  among  the  fishes  for  their  dead !  "  returned 
the  low,  soft  voice  of  the  youthful  chieftain ;  "  the 
Hurons  float  with  the  slimy  eels!  They  drop  from  the 
oaks  like  fruit  that  is  ready  to  be  eaten !  and  the  Dela- 
wares  laugh !  " 

"  Aye,  aye,"  muttered  the  scout,  who  had  listened  to 
this  peculiar  burst  of  the  natives  with  deep  attention; 
"  they  have  warmed  their  Indian  feelings,  and  they'll 
soon  provoke  the  Maquas  to  give  them  a  speedy  end. 
As  for  me,  who  am  of  the  whole  blood  of  the  whites, 
it  is  befitting  that  I  should  die  as  becomes  my  color,  with 
no  words  of  scoffing  in  my  mouth,  and  without  bitter 
ness  at  the  heart !  " 

"  Why  die  at  all !  "  said  Cora,  advancing  from  the  place 
where  natural  horror  had,  until  this  moment,  held  her 
riveted  to  the  rock ;  "  the  path  is  open  on  every  side ;  fly, 
then,  to  the  woods,  and  call  on  God  for  succor.  Go, 
brave  men,  we  owe  you  too  much  already ;  let  us  no 
longer  involve  you  in  our  hapless  fortunes !  " 

"  You  but  little  know  the  craft  of  the  Iroquois,  lady, 
if  you  judge  they  have  left  the  path  open  to  the  woods !  " 
returned  Hawkeye,  who,  however,  immediately  added  in 
his  simplicity,  "  the  down  stream  current,  it  is  certain, 
might  soon  sweep  us  beyond  the  reach  of  their  rifles  or 
the  sounds  of  their  voices." 

"  Then  try  the  river.  Why  linger  to  add  to  the  num 
ber  of  the  victims  of  our  merciless  enemies  ?  " 

"  Why,"  repeated  the  scout,  looking  about  him 
proudly,  "  because  it  is  better  for  a  man  to  die  at  peace 


106  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 


with  himself  than  to  live  haunted  by  an  evil  conscience! 
What  answer  could  we  give  Munro,  when  he  asked  us 
where  and  how  we  left  his  children  ?  " 

"  Go  to  him,  and  say,  that  you  left  them  with  a  mes 
sage  to  hasten  to  their  aid,"  returned  Cora,  advancing 
nigher  to  the  scout,  in  her  generous  ardor ;  "  that  the 
Hurons  bear  them  into  the  northern  wilds,  but  that  by 
vigilance  and  speed  they  may  yet  be  rescued;  and  if, 
after  all,  it  should  please  heaven  that  his  assistance  come 
too  late,  bear  to  him,"  she  continued,  her  voice  gradu 
ally  lowering,  until  it  seemed  nearly  choked,  "  the  love, 
the  blessings,  the  final  prayers  of  his  daughters,  and  bid 
him  not  mourn  their  early  fate,  but  to  look  forward  with 
humble  confidence  to  the  Christian's  goal  to  meet  his 
children." 

The  hard,  weather-beaten  features  of  the  scout  began 
to  work,  and  when  she  had  ended,  he  dropped  his  chin 
to  his  hand,  like  a  man  musing  profoundly  on  the  nature 
of  the  proposal. 

"  There  is  reason  in  her  words !  "  at  length  broke  from 
his  compressed  and  trembling  lips ;  "  aye,  and  they  bear 
the  spirit  of  Christianity ;  what  might  be  right  and  proper 
in  a  redskin,  may  be  sinful  in  a  man  who  has  not  even 
a  cross  in  blood  to  plead  for  his  ignorance.  Chingach- 
gook!  Uncas!  hear  you  the  talk  of  the  dark-eyed 
woman !  " 

He  now  spoke  in  Delaware  to  his  companions,  and  his 
address,  though  calm  and  deliberate,  seemed  very  de 
cided.  The  elder  Mohican  heard  him  with  deep  gravity, 
and  appeared  to  ponder  on  his  words,  as  though  he  felt 
the  importance  of  their  import.  After  a  moment  of  hesi 
tation,  he  waved  his  hand  in  assent,  and  uttered  the  Eng 
lish  word  "  Good !  "  with  the  peculiar  emphasis  of  his 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  .  107 

people.  Then,  replacing  his  knife  and  tomahawk  in  his 
girdle,  the  warrior  moved  silently  to  the  edge  of  the 
rock  which  was  most  concealed  from  the  banks  of  the 
river.  Here  he  paused  a  moment,  pointed  significantly 
to  the  woods  below,  and  saying  a  few  words  in  his  own 
language,  as  if  indicating  his  intended  route,  he  dropped 
into  the  water,  and  sank  from  before  the  eyes  of  the 
witnesses  of  his  movements. 

The  scout  delayed  his  departure  to  speak  to  the  gen 
erous  girl,  whose  breathing  became  lighter  as  she  saw 
the  success  of  her  remonstrance. 

"  Wisdom  is  sometimes  given  to  the  young,  as  well  as 
to  the  old/'  he  said ;  "  and  what  you  have  spoken  is  wise, 
not  to  call  it  by  a  better  word.  If  you  are  led  into  the 
woods,  that  is  such  of  you  as  may  be  spared  for  a  while, 
break  the  twigs  on  the  bushes  as  you  pass,  and  make  the 
marks  of  your  trail  as  broad  as  you  can,  when,  if  mortal 
eyes  can  see  them,  depend  on  having  a  friend  who  will 
follow  to  the  ends  of  'arth  afore  he  desarts  you." 

He  gave  Cora  an  affectionate  shake  of  the  hand,  lifted 
his  rifle,  and  after  regarding  it  a  moment  with  melan 
choly  solicitude,  laid  it  carefully  aside,  and  descended  to 
the  place  where  Chingachgook  had  just  disappeared.  For 
an  instant  he  hung  suspended  by  the  rock;  and  looking 
about  him,  with  a  countenance  of  peculiar  care,  he  added, 
bitterly,  "  Had  the  powder  held  out,  this  disgrace  could 
never  have  befallen !  "  then,  loosening  his  hold,  the  wa 
ter  closed  above  his  head,  and  he  also  became  lost  to 
view. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  on  Uncas,  who  stood  leaning 
against  the  ragged  rock,  in  immovable  composure.  After 
waiting  a  short  time,  Cora  pointed  down  the  river,  and 
said : — 


io8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Your  friends  have  not  been  seen,  and  are  now,  most 
probably,  in  safety;  is  it  not  time  for  you  to  follow?" 

"  Uncas  will  stay,"  the  young  Mohican  calmly  an 
swered  in  English. 

"  To  increase  the  horror  of  our  capture,  and  to  dimin 
ish  the  chances  of  our  release!  Go,  generous  young 
man,"  Cora  continued,  lowering  her  eyes  under  the  gaze 
of  the  Mohican,  and,  perhaps,  with_an  intuitive  con 
sciousness  of  her(|pow<^;  "  go  to  my  father7~as  I  have 
said,  and  be  the  most  confidential  of  my  messengers. 
Tell  him  to  trust  you  with  the  means  to  buy  the  freedom 
of  his  daughters.  Go!  'tis  my  wish,  'tis  my  prayer,  that 
you  will  go !  " 

The  settled,  calm  look  of  the  young  chief  changed  to 
an  expression  of  gloom,  but  he  no  longer  hesitated.  With 
a  noiseless  step  he  crossed  the  rock,  and  dropped  into 
the  troubled  stream.  Hardly  a  breath  was  drawn  by 
those  he  left  behind,  until  they  caught  a  glimpse  of  his 
head  emerging  for  air,  far  down  the  current,  when  he 
again  sank,  and  was  seen  no  more. 

These  sudden  and  apparently  successful  experiments 
had  all  taken  place  in  a  few  minutes  of  that  time  which 
had  now  become  so  precious.  After  the  last  look  at 
Uncas,  Cora  turned,  and,  with  a  quivering  lip,  addressed 
herself  to  Hey  ward: — 

"  I  have  heard  of  your  boasted  skill  in  the  water,  too, 
Duncan,"  she  said ;  "  follow,  then,  the  wise  example  set 
you  by  these  simple  and  faithful  beings." 

"  Is  such  the  faith  that  Cora  Munro  would  exact  from 
her  protector?  "  said  the  young  man,  smiling  mournfully, 
but  with  bitterness. 

"  This  is  not  a  time  for  idle  subtleties  and  false  opin 
ions,"  she  answered ;  "  but  a  moment  when  every  duty 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans      /        109 

should  be  equally  considered.  To  us  you  can  be  of  no 
further  service  here,  but  your  precious  life  rrfay  be  saved 
for  other  and  nearer  friends." 

He  made  no  reply,  though  his  eyes  fell  wistfully  on  the 
beautiful  forrn^  of  Alice,  who  was  clinging  to  his  arm 
with  the  dependency  of~an  infant.  / 

"  Consider,"  continued  Cora,  after  a  pause,  during 
which  she  seemed  to  struggle  with  a  pang  even  more 
acute  than  any  that  her  fears  had  excited,  "  that  the  worst 
to  us  can  be  but  death ;  a  tribute  that  all  must  pay  at 
the  good  time  of  God's  appointment." 

"  There  are  evils  worse  than  death,"  said  Duncan, 
speaking  hoarsely,  and  as  if  fretful  at  her  importunity, 
"  but  which  the  presence  of  one  who  would  die  in  your 
behalf  may  avert." 

Cora  ceased  her  entreaties ;  and,  veiling  her  face  in  her 
shawl,  drew  the  nearly  insensible  Alice  after  her  into 
the  deepest  recess  of  the  inner  cavern. 


CHAPTER 
IX.  &    & 


"  Be  gay  securely ; 

Dispel,  my  fair,  with  smiles,  the  tim'rous  clouds, 
That  hang  on  thy  clear  brow." 

Death  of  Agrippina. 

THE  sudden  and  almost  magical  change,  from  the 
stirring  incidents  of  the  combat  to  the  stillness  that 
now  reigned  around  him,  acted  on  the  heated  imagina 
tion  of  Heyward  like  some  exciting  dream.  While  all 
the  images  and  events  he  had  witnessed  remained  deeply 
impressed  on  his  memory,  he  felt  a  difficulty  in  per 
suading  himself  of  their  truth.  Still  ignorant  of  the  fate 
of  those  who  had  trusted  to  the  aid  of  the  swift  current, 
he  at  first  listened  intently  to  any  signal,  or  sounds  of 
alarm,  which  might  announce  the  good  or  evil  fortune 
of  their  hazardous  undertaking.  His  attention  was,  how 
ever,  bestowed  in  vain ;  for,  with  the  disappearance  of 
Uncas,  every  sign  of  the  adventurers  had  been  lost,  leav 
ing  him  in  total  uncertainty  of  their  fate. 

In  a  moment  of  such  painful  doubt,  Duncan  did  not 
hesitate  to  look  about  him,  without  consulting  that  pro 
tection  from  the  rocks  which  just  before  had  been  so 
necessary  to  his  safety.  Every  effort,  however,  to  de- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  1 1 1 

tect  the  least  evidence  of  the  approach  of  their  hidden 
enemies,  was  as  fruitless  as  the  inquiry  after  his  late 
companions.  The  wooded  banks  of  the  rivers  seemed 
again  deserted  by  everything  possessing  animal  life. 
The  uproar  which  had  so  lately  echoed  through  the  vaults 
of  the  forest  was  gone,  leaving  the  rush  of  the  waters 
to  swell  and  sink  on  the-  currents  of  the  air,  in  the  un- 
mingled  sweetness  of  nature.  A  fish-hawk,  which,  se 
cure  on  the  topmost  branches  of  a  dead  pine,  had  been 
a  distant  spectator  of  the  fray,  now  stooped  from  his 
high  and  ragged  perch,  and  soared,  in  wide  sweeps,  above 
his  prey;  while  a  jay,  whose  noisy  voice  had  been  stilled 
by  the  hoarser  cries  of  the  savages-,  ventured  again  to 
open  his  discordant  throat,  as  though  once  more  in  un 
disturbed  possession  of  his  wild  domains.  Duncan 
caught  from  these  natural  accompaniments  of  the  soli 
tary  scene  a  glimmering  of  hope;  and  he  began  to  rally 
his  faculties  to  renewed  exertions,  with  something  like  a 
reviving  confidence  of  success. 

"  The  Hurons  are  not  to  be  seen,"  he  said,  addressing 
David,  who  had  by  no  means  recovered  from  the  effects 
of  the  stunning  blow  he  had  received ;  "  let  us  conceal 
ourselves  in  the  cavern,  and  trust  the  rest  to  Providence." 

"  I  remember  to  have  united  with  two  comely  maidens, 
in  lifting  up  our  voices  in  praise  and  thanksgiving," 
returned  the  bewildered  singing-master ;  "  since  which 
time  I  have  been  visited  by  a  heavy  judgment  for  my 
sins.  I  have  been  mocked  with  the  likeness  of  sleep, 
while  sounds  of  discord  have  rent  my  ears,  such  as  might 
manifest  the  fullness  of  time,  and  that  nature  had  for 
gotten  her  harmony." 

"  Poor  fellow !  thine  own  period  was,  in  truth,  near  its 
accomplishment!  But  arouse,  and  come  with  me;  I  will 


H2  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

lead  you  where  all  other  sounds  but  those  of  your  own 
psalmody  shall  be  excluded." 

"  There  is  melody  in  the  fall  of  the  cataract,  and  the 
rushing  of  many  waters  is  sweet  to  the  senses  !  "  said 
David,  pressing  his  hand  confusedly  on  his  brow.  "  Is 
not  the  air  yet  filled  with  shrieks  and  cries,  as  though 
the  departed  spirits  of  the  damned  —  " 

"  Not  now,  not  now,"  interrupted  the  impatient  Hey- 
ward,  "  they  have  ceased,  and  they  who  raised  them,  I 
trust  in  God,  they  are  gone  too!  everything  but  the  wa 
ter  is  still  and  at  peace;  in,  then,  where  you  may  create 
those  sounds  you  love  so  well  to  hear." 

David  smiled  sadly,  though  not  without  a  momentary 
gleam  of  pleasure,  at  this  allusion  to  his  beloved  voca 
tion.  He  no  longer  hesitated  to  be  led  to  a  spot  which 
promised  such  unalloyed  gratification  to  his  wearied 
senses;  and,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  his  companion,  he 
entered  the  narrow  mouth  of  the  cave.  Duncan  seized 
a  pile  of  the  sassafras,  which  he  drew  before  the  passage, 
studiously  concealing  every  appearance  of  an  aperture, 
Within  this  fragile  barrier  he  arranged  the  blankets  aban 
doned  by  the  foresters,  darkening  the  inner  extremity 
of  the  cavern,  while  its  outer  received  a  chastened  light 
from  the  narrow  ravine,  through  which  one  arm  of  the 
river  rushed,  to  form  the  junction  with  its  sister  branch, 
a  few  rods  below. 

"  I  like  not  that  principle  of  the  natives,  which  teaches 

them  to  submit  without  a  struggle,  in  emergencies  that 

N  appear  desperate,"  he  said,  while  busied  in  this  employ- 

y  ment  ;  "  our  own  maxim,  which  says,  '  while  life  remains 

there  is  hope/  is  more  consolmg^and  better  suited  to  a 

soldier's  temperament.     To  you,  Cora,   I  will  urge  no 

words  of  idle  encouragement;  your  own  fortitude  and 


r 

v 

v^X^  XV' 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  113 

undisturbed  reason  will  teach  you  all  that  may  become 
your  sex;  but  cannot  we  dry  the  tears  of  that  trembling 
weeper  on  your  bosom  ?  " 

"  I  am  calmer,  Duncan,"  said  Alice,  raising  herself 
from  the  arms  of  her  sister,  and  forcing  an  appearance 
of  composure  through  her  tears ;  "  much  calmer,  now. 
Surely,  in  this  hidden  spot  we  are  safe,  we  are  secret, 
free  from  injury;  we  will  hope  everything  from  those 
generous  men  who  have  risked  so  much  already  in  our 
behalf." 

"  Now  does  our  gentle  Alice  speak  like  a  daughter  of 
Munro !  "  said  Heyward,  pausing  to  press  her  hand  as 
he  passed  towards  the  outer  entrance  of  the  cavern. 
"  With  two  such  examples  of  courage  before  him,  a  man 
would  be  ashamed  to  prove  other  than  a  hero."  He  then 
seated  himself  in  the  center  of  the  cavern,  grasping  his 
remaining  pistol  with  a  hand  convulsively  clenched,  while 
his  contracted  and  frowning  eye  announced  the  sullen 
desperation  of  his  purpose.  "  The  Hurons,  if  they  come, 
may  not  gain  our  position  so  easily  as  they  think,"  he 
lowly  muttered;  and  dropping  his  head  back  against  the 
rock,  he  seemed  to  await  the  result  in  patience,  though 
his  gaze  was  unceasingly  bent  on  the  open  avenue  to 
their  place  of  retreat. 

With  the  last  sound  of  his  voice,  a  deep,  a  long,  and 
almost  breathless  silence  succeeded.  The  fresh  air  of 
the  morning  had  penetrated  the  recess,  and  its  influ 
ence  was  gradually  felt  on  the  spirits  of  its  inmates.  As 
minute  after  minute  passed  by,  leaving  them  in  undis 
turbed  security,  the  insinuating  feeling  of  hope  was  grad 
ually  gaming  possession  of  every  bosom,  though  each  one 
felt  reluctant  to  give  utterance  to  expectations  that  the 
next  moment  might  so  fearfully  destroy. 


114  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

David  alone  formed  an  exception  to  these  varying  emo-l 
tions.  A  gleam  of  light  from  the  opening  crossed  his! 
wan  countenance,  and  fell  upon  the  pages  of  the  little 
volume,  whose  leaves  he  was  again  occupied  in  turning,! 
as  if  searching  for  some  song  more  fitted  to  their  con-! 
dition  than  any  that  had  yet  met  his  eye.  He  was,  most; 
probably,  acting  all  this  time  under  a  confused  recol-j 
lection  of  the  promised  consolation  of  Duncan.  At 
length,  it  would  seem,  his  patient  industry  found  its  re 
ward;  for,  without  explanation  or  apology,  he  pro 
nounced  aloud  the  words  "  Isle-  of  Wight,"  drew  a  long,: 
sweet  sound  from  his  pitch-pipe,  and  then  ran  through 
the  preliminary  modulations  of  the  air,  whose  name  he] 
had  just  mentioned,  with  the  sweeter  tones  of  his  own, 
musical  voice. 

"  May  not  this  prove  dangerous  ?  "  asked  Cora,  glanc 
ing  her  dark  eye  at  Major  Hey  ward. 

"  Poor  fellow !  his  voice  is  too  feeble  to  be  heard  amid 
the  din  of  the  falls,"  was  the  answer;  "besides,  the 
cavern  will  prove  his  friend.  Let  him  indulge  his  pas-^ 
sion,  since  it  may  be  done  without  hazard." 

"  Isle  of  Wight !  "  repeated  David,  looking  about  him 
with  that  dignity  with  which  he  had  long  been  wont  to 
silence  the  whispering  echoes  of  his  school ;  "  'tis  a  brave 
tune,  and  set  to  solemn  words;  let  it  be  sung  with  meet! 
respect !  " 

After  allowing  a  moment  of  stillness  to  enforce  his 
discipline,  the  voice  of  the  singer  was  heard,  in  low,  mur-j 
muring  syllables,  gradually  stealing  on  the  ear,  until  it 
rilled  the  narrow  vault  with  sounds  rendered  trebly  thrill 
ing  by  the  feeble  and  tremulous  utterance  produced  by; 
his  debility.  The  melody,  which  no  weakness  could  de 
stroy,  gradually  wrought  its  sweet  influence  on  the  senses 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  115 

of  those  who  heard  it.  It  even  prevailed  over  the  mis 
erable  travesty  of  the  song  of  David  which  the  singer 
had  selected  from  a  volume  of  similar  effusions,  and 
caused  the  sense  to  be  forgotten  in  the  insinuating  har 
mony  of  the  sounds.  Alice  unconsciously  dried  her  tears, 
and  bent  her  melting  eyes  on  the  pallid  features  of  Gamut 
with  an  expression  of  chastened  delight  that  she  neither 
affected  nor  wished  to  conceal.  Cora  bestowed  an  ap 
proving  smile  on  the  pious  efforts  of  the  namesake  of 
the  Jewish  prince,  and  Heyward  soon  turned  his  steady, 
stern  look  from  the  outlet  of  the  cavern,  to  fasten  it, 
with  a  milder  character,  on  the  face  of  David,  or  to  meet 
the  wandering  beams  which  at  moments  strayed  from 
the  humid  eyes  of  Alice.  The  open  sympathy  of  the 
listeners  stirred  the  spirit  of  the  votary  of  music,  whose 
voice  regained  its  richness  and  volume,  without  losing 
that  touching  softness  which  proved  its  secret  charm. 
Exerting  his  renovated  powers  to  their  utmost,  he  was 
yet  filling  the  arches  of  the  cave  with  long  and  full 
tones,  when  a  yell  burst  into  the  air  without,  that  in 
stantly  stilled  his  pious  strains,  choking  his  voice  sud 
denly,  as  though  his  heart  had  literally  bounded  into 
the  passage  of  his  throat. 

"  We  are  lost!  "  exclaimed  Alice,  throwing  herself  into 
the  arms  of  Cora. 

"  Not  yet,  not  yet,"  returned  the  agitated  but  un 
daunted  Heyward ;  "  the  sound  came  from  the  center  of 
the  island,  and  it  has  been  produced  by  the  sight  of  their 
dead  companions.  We  are  not  yet  discovered,  and  there 
is  still  hope." 

Faint  and  almost  despairing  as  was  the  prospect  of 
escape,  the  words  of  Duncan  were  not  thrown  away,  for 
it  awakened  the  powers  of  the  sisters  in  such  a  manner 


n6  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

that  they  awaited  the  result  in  silence.  A  second  yell' 
soon  followed  the  first,  when  a  rush  of  voices  was  heard 
pouring  down  the  island,  from  its  upper  to  its  lower 
extremity,  until  they  reached  the  naked  rock  above  the 
caverns,  where,  after  a  shout  of  savage  triumph,  the  air 
continued  full  of  terrible  cries  and  screams,  such  as 
man  alone  can  utter,  and  he  only  when  in  a  state  of  the 
fiercest  barbarity. 

The  sounds  quickly  spread  around  them  in  every  di 
rection.  Some  called  to  their  fellows  from  the  water's  j 
edge,  and  were  answered  from  the  heights  above.  Cries 
were  heard  in  the  startling  vicinity  of  the  chasm  between! 
the  two  caves,  which  mingled  with  hoarser  yells  that 
arose  out  of  the  abyss  of  the  deep  ravine.  In  short,  so 
rapidly  had  the  savage  sounds  diffused  themselves  over 
the  barren,  rock,  that  it  was  not  difficult  for  the  anxious  j 
listeners  to  imagine  they  could  be  heard  beneath,  as  in 
truth  they  were  above  and  on  every  side  of  them. 

In  the  midst  of  this  tumult,  a  triumphant  yell  was 
raised  within  a  few  yards  of  the  hidden  entrance  to  the 
cave.  Heyward  abandoned  every  hope,  with  the  belief 
it  was  the  signal  that  they  were  discovered.  Again  the 
impression  passed  away,  as  he  heard  the  voices  collect 
near  the  spot  where  the  white  man  had  so  reluctantly 
abandoned  his  rifle.  Amid  the  jargon  of  the  Indian  dia 
lects  that  he  now  plainly  heard,  it  was  easy  to  distin 
guish  not  only  words,  but  sentences,  in  the  patois  of 
the  Canadas.  A  burst  of  voices  had  shouted  simultane 
ously,  "  La  Longue  Carabine !  "  causing  the  opposite] 
woods  to  re-echo  with  a  name  which,  Heyward  well  re-j 
membered,  had  been  given  by  his  enemies  to  a  celebrated 
hunter  and  scout  of  the  English  camp,  and  who,  he  now; 
learnt  for  the  fifst  time,  had  been  his  late  comrjanion. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  117 

"  La  Longue  Carabine !  La  Longue  Carabine !  "  passed 
from  mouth  to  mouth,  until  the  whole  band  appeared 
to  be  collected  around  a  trophy  which  would  seem  to 
announce  the  death  of  its  formidable  owner.  After  a 
vociferous  consultation,  which  was,  at  times,  deafened 
by  bursts  of  savage  joy,  they  again  separated,  rilling  the 
air  with  the  name  of  a  foe,  whose  body,  Heyward  could 
collect  from  their  expressions,  they  hoped  to  find  con 
cealed  in  some  crevice  of  the  island. 

"  Now,"  he  whispered  to  the  trembling  sisters,  "  now 
is  the  moment  of  uncertainty!  if  our  place  of  retreat 
escape  this  scrutiny,  we  are  still  safe!  In  every  event, 
we  are  assured,  by  what  has  fallen  from  our  enemies, 
that  our  friends  have  escaped,  and  in  two  short  hours 
we  may  look  for  succor  from  Webb." 

There  were  now  a  few  minutes  of  fearful  stillness, 
during  which  Heyward  well  knew  that  the  savages  con 
ducted  their  search  with  greater  vigilance  and  method. 
More  than  once  he  could  distinguish  their  footsteps,  as 
they  brushed  the  sassafras,  causing  the  faded  leaves  to 
rustle,  and  the  branches  to  snap.  At  length,  the  pile 
yielded  a  little,  a  corner  of  the  blanket  fell,  and  a  faint 
ray  of  light  gleamed  into  the  inner  part  of  the  cave.  Cora 
folded  Alice  to  her  bosom  in  agony,  and  Duncan  sprang 
to  his  feet.  A  shout  was  at  that  moment  heard,  as  if 
issuing  from  the  center  of  the  rock,  announcing  that  the 
neighboring  cavern  had  at  length  been  entered.  In  a 
minute,  the  number  and  loudness  of  the  voices  indicated 
that  the  whole  party  was  collected  in  and  around  that 
secret  place. 

As  the  inner  passages  to  the  two  caves  were  so  close 
to  each  other,  Duncan,  believing  that  escape  was  no 
longer  possible,  passed  David  and  the  sisters,  to  place 


n8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

himself  between  the  latter  and  the  first  onset  of  the 
terrible  meeting.  Grown  desperate  by  his  situation,  he 
drew  nigh  the  slight  barrier  which  separated  him  only 
by  a  few  feet  from  his  relentless  pursuers,  and  placing 
his  face  to  the  casual  opening,  he  even  looked  out,  with 
a  sort  of  desperate  indifference,  on  their  movements. 

Within  reach  of  his  arm  was  the  brawny  shoulder  of 
a  gigantic  Indian,  whose  deep  and  authoritative  voice  ap 
peared  to  give  directions  to  the  proceedings  of  his  fel 
lows.  Beyond  him  again,  Duncan  could  look  into  the 
vault  opposite,  which  was  filled  with  savages,  upturning 
and  rifling  the  humble  furniture  of  the  scout.  The  wound 
of  David  had  dyed  the  leaves  of  sassafras  with  a  color 
that  the  natives  well  knew  was  anticipating  the  season. 
Over  this  sign  of  their  success,  they  set  up  a  howl,  like 
an  opening  from  so  many  hounds  who  had  recovered  a 
lost  trail.  After  this  yell  of  victory,  they  tore  up  the 
fragrant  bed  of  the  cavern,  and  bore  the  branches  into 
the  chasm,  scattering  the  boughs,  as  if  they  suspected 
them  of  concealing  the  person  of  the  man  they  had  so 
long  hated  and  feared.  One  fierce  and  wild-looking  war 
rior  approached  the  chief  bearing  a  load  of  the  brush, 
and  pointing,  exultingly,  to  the  deep  red  stains  with 
which  it  was  sprinkled,  uttered  his  joy  in  Indian  yells, 
whose  meaning  Heyward  was  only  enabled  to  compre 
hend  by  the  frequent  repetition  of  the  name  of  "  La 
Longue  Carabine !  "  When  his  triumph  had  ceased,  he 
cast  the  brush  on  the  slight  heap  that  Duncan  had  made 
before  the  entrance  of  the  second  cavern,  and  closed  the 
view.  His  example  was  followed  by  others,  who,  as 
they  drew  the  branches  from  the  cave  of  the.  scout, 
threw  them  into  one  pile,  adding,  unconsciously,  to  the 
security  of  those  they  sought.  The  very  slightness  of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  119  - 

the  defense  was  its  chief  merit,  for  no  one  thought  of 
disturbing  a  mass  of  brush,  which  all  of  them  believed, 
in  that  moment  of  hurry  and  confusion,  had  been  acci 
dentally  raised  by  the  hands  of  their  own  party. 

As  the  blankets  yielded  before  the  outward  pressure, 
and  the  branches  settled  in  the  fissure  of  the  rock  by 
their  own  weight,  forming  a  compact  body,  Duncan  once 
more  breathed  freely.  With  a  light  step,  and  lighter 
heart,  he  returned  to  the  center  of  the  cave,  and  took 
the  place  he  had  left,  where  he  could  command  a  view 
of  the  opening  next  the  river.  While  he  was  m  the  act 
of  making  this  movement,  the  Indians,  as  if  changing 
their  purpose  by  a  common  impulse,  broke  away  from 
the  chasm  in  a  body,  and  were  heard  rushing  up  the 
island  again,  towards  the  point  whence  they  had  orig 
inally  descended.  Here  another  wailing  cry  betrayed  that 
they  were  again  collected  around  the  bodies  of  their 
dead  comrades. 

Duncan  now  ventured  to  look  at  his  companions;  for, 
during  the  most  critical  moments  of  their  danger,  he 
had  been  apprehensive  that  the  anxiety  of  his  counte 
nance  might  communicate  some  additional  alarm  to  those 
who  were  so  little  able  to  sustain  it. 

"  They  are  gone,  Cora !  "  he  whispered ;  "  Alice,  they 
are  returned  whence  they  came,  and  we  are  saved!  To 
Heaven,  that  has  alone  delivered  us  from  the  grasp  of  so 
merciless  an  enemy,  be  all  the  praise !  " 

"  Then  to  Heaven  will  I  return  my  thanks !  "  exclaimed 
the  younger  sister,  rising  from  the  encircling  arms  of 
Cora,  and  casting  herself  with  enthusiastic  gratitude  on 
the  naked  rock;  "to  that  Heaven  who  has  spared  the 
tears  of  a  gray-headed  father;  has  saved  the  lives  of 
those  I  so  much  love — " 


120  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Both  Heyward,  and  the  more  tempered  Cora,  witnessed 
the  act  of  involuntary  emotion  with  powerful  sympathy, 
the  former  secretly  believing  that  piety  had  never  worn 
a  form  so  lovely  as  it  had  now  assumed  in  the  youthful 
person  of  Alice.  Her  eyes  were  radiant  with  the  glow 
of  grateful  feelings;  the  flush  of  her  beauty  was  again 
seated  on  her  cheeks,  and  her  whole  soul  seemed  ready 
and  anxious  to  pour  out  its  thanksgiving,  through  the 
medium  of  her  eloquent  features.  But  when  her  lips 
moved,  the  words  they  should  have  uttered  appeared 
frozen  by  some  new  and  sudden  chill.  Her  bloom  gave 
place  to  the  paleness  of  death ;  her  soft  and  melting  eyes 
grew  hard,  and  seemed  contracting  with  horror;  while 
those  hands  which  she  had  raised,  clasped  in  each  otherv 
towards  heaven,  dropped  in  horizontal  lines  before  her, 
the  ringers  pointed  forward  in  convulsed  motion.  Hey 
ward  turned,  the  instant  she  gave  a  direction  to  his  sus 
picions,  and,  peering  just  above  the  ledge  which  formed 
the  threshold  of  the  open  outlet  of  the  cavern,  he  beheld 
the  malignant,  fierce,  and  savage  features  of  Le  Renard 
Subtil. 

In  that  moment  of  surprise,  the  self-possession  of 
Heyward  did  not  desert  him.  He  observed  by  the  vacant 
expression  of  the  Indian's  countenance,  that  his  eye,  ac 
customed  to  the  open  air,  had  not  yet  been  able  to  pene 
trate  the  dusky  light  which  pervaded  the  depth  of  the 
cavern.  He  had  even  thought  of  retreating  beyond  a 
curvature  in  the  natural  wall,  which  might  still  conceal 
him  and  his  companions,  when,  by  the  sudden  gleam  of 
intelligence  that  shot  across  the  features  of  the  savage, 
he  saw  it  was  too  late,  and  that  they  were  betrayed. 

The  look  of  exultation  and  brutal  triumph  which  an 
nounced  this  terrible  truth  was  irresistibly  irritating. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  121 

Forgetful  of  everything  but  the  impulses  of  his  hot  blood, 
Duncan  leveled  his  pistol  and  fired.  The  report  of  the 
weapon  made  the  cavern  bellow  like  an  eruption  from  a 
volcano ;  and  when  the  smoke  it  vomited  had  been  driven 
away  before  the  current  of  air  which  issued  from  the 
ravine,  the  place  so  lately  occupied  by  the  features  of  his 
treacherous  guide  was  vacant.  Rushing  to  the  outlet, 
Heyward  caught  a  glimpse  of  his  dark  figure,  stealing 
around  a  low  and  narrow  ledge,  which  soon  hid  him 
entirely  from  sight. 

Among  the  savages,  a  frightful  stillness  succeeded  the 
explosion,  which  had  just  been  heard  bursting  from  the 
bowels  of  the  rock.  But  when  Le  Renard  raised  his 
voice  in  a  long  and  intelligible  whoop,  it  was  answered 
by  a  spontaneous  yell  from  the  mouth  of  every  Indian 
within  hearing  of  the  sound.  The  clamorous  noises  again 
rushed  down  the  island;  and  before  Duncan  had  time 
to  recover  from  the  shock,  his  feeble  barrier  of  brush 
was  scattered  to  the  winds,  the  cavern  was  entered  at 
both  its  extremities,  and  he  and  his  companions  were 
dragged  from  their  shelter  and  borne  into  the  day,  where 
they  stood  surrounded  by  the  whole  band  of  the  tri 
umphant  Hurons. 


CHAPTER 

X. 


"I  fear  we  shall  outsleep  the  coming  morn 
As  much  as  we  this  night  have  overwatched !  " 
Midsummer  Night's  Dream. 

THE  instant  the  shock  of  this  sudden  misfortune  had 
abated,  Duncan  began  to  make  his  observations 
on  the  appearance  and  proceedings  of  their  captors. 
Contrary  to  the  usages  of  the  natives  in  the  wantonness 
of  their  success,  they  had  respected,  not  only  the  persons 
of  the  trembling  sisters,  but  his  own.  The  rich  orna 
ments  of  his  military  attire  had  indeed  been  repeatedly 
handled  by  different  individuals  of  the  tribe  with  eyes 
expressing  a  savage  longing  to  possess  the  baubles;  but 
before  the  customary  violence  could  be  resorted  to,  a 
mandate  in  the  authoritative  voice  of  the  large  warrior 
already  mentioned,  stayed  the  uplifted  hand,  and  con 
vinced  Heyward  that  they  were  to  be  reserved  for  some 
object  of  particular  moment. 

While,  however,  these  manifestations  of  weakness 
were  exhibited  by  the  young  and  vain  of  the  party,  the 
more  experienced  warriors  continued  their  search 
throughout  both  caverns,  with  an  activity  that  denoted 


122 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  123 

they  were  far  from  being  satisfied  with  those  fruits  of 
their  conquest  which  had  already  been  brought  to  light. 
Unable  to  discover  any  new  victim,  these  diligent  work 
ers  of  vengeance  soon  approached  their  male  prisoners, 
pronouncing  the  name  of  "  La  Longue  Carabine,"  with 
a  fierceness  that  could  not  easily  be  mistaken.  Duncan 
affected  not  to  comprehend  the  meaning  of  their  repeated 
and  violent  interrogatories,  while  his  companion  was 
spared  the  effort  of  a  similar  deception  by  his  ignorance 
of  French.  Wearied,  at  length,  by  their  importunities, 
and  apprehensive  of  irritating  his  captors  by  too  stub 
born  a  silence,  the  former  looked  about  him  in  quest  of 
Magua;  who  might  interpret  his  answers  to  questions 
"wrricirwere  at  each  moment  becoming  more  earnest  and 
threatening. 

The  conduct  of  this  savage  had  formed  a  solitary  ex 
ception  to  that  of  all  his  fellows.  While  the  others  were 
busily  occupied  in  seeking  to  gratify  their  childish  passion 
for  finery,  by  plundering  even  the  miserable  effects  of 
the  scout,  or  had  been  searching,  with  such  bloodthirsty 
vengeance  in  their  looks,  for  their  absent  owner,  Le 
Renard  had  stood  at  a  little  distance  from  the  prisoners, 
with  a  demeanor  so  quiet  and  satisfied,  as  to  betray  that 
he  had  already  effected  the  grand  purpose  of  his  treach 
ery.  When  the  eyes  of  Heyward  first  met  those  of  his 
recent  guide,  he  turned  them  away  in  horror  at  the  sin 
ister  though  calm  look  he  encountered.  Conquering  his 
disgust,  however,  he  was  able,  with  an  averted  face,  to 
address  his  successful  enemy. 

"  Le  Renard  Subtil  is  too  much  of  a  warrior,"  said 
the  reluctant  Heyward,  "  to  refuse  telling  an  unarmed 
man  what  his  conquerors  say." 

"  They  ask  for  the  hunter  who  knows  the  paths  through 


124  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  woods/'  returned  Magua,  in  his  broken  English,  lay 
ing  his  hand,  at  the  same  time,  with  a  ferocious  smile, 
on  the  bundle  of  leaves  with  which  a  wound  on  his  own 
shoulder  was  bandaged.  "  La  Longue  Carabine !  his  rifle 
is  good,  and  his  eye  never  shut;  but,  like  the  short  gun 
of  the  white  chief,  it  is  nothing  against  the  life  of  Le 
Subtil !  " 

"  Le  Renard  is  too  brave  to  remember  the  hurts  re 
ceived  in  war,  or  the  hands  that  gave  them !  " 

"  Was  it  war,  when  the  tired  Indian  rested  at  the 
sugar-tree  to  ta*ste  his  corn !  who  filled  the  bushes  with 
creeping  enemies !  who  drew  the  knife !  whose  tongue  was 
peace,  while  his  heart  was  colored  with  blood !  Did 
Magua  say  that  the  hatchet  was  out  of  the  ground,  and 
that  his  hand  had  dug  it  up  ?  " 

As  Duncan  dared  not  retort  upon  his  accuser  by  re 
minding  him  of  his  own  premeditated  treachery,  and  dis 
dained  to  deprecate  his  resentment  by  any  words  of 
apology,  he  remained  silent.  Magua  seemed  also  content 
to  rest  the  controversy  as  well  as  all  further  communica 
tion  there,  for  he  resumed  the  leaning  attitude  against 
the  rock,  from  which,  in  momentary  energy,  he  had 
arisen.  But  the  cry  of  "  La  Longue  Carabine  "  was  re 
newed  the  instant  the  impatient  savages  perceived  that 
the  short  dialogue  was  ended. 

."You  hear,"  said  Magua,  with  stubborn  indifference; 
"  the  red  Hurons  call  for  the  life  of  '  The  Long  Rifle,' 
or  they  will  have  the  blood  of  them  that  keep  him 
hid!" 

"  He  is  gone — escaped ;  he  is  far  beyond  their  reach."' 

Renard  smiled  with  cold  contempt,  as  he  answered, — 

"  When  the  white  man  dies,  he  thinks  he  is  at  peace  ; 

but  the  redmen  know  how  to  torture  even  the  ghosts  of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  125 

their  enemies.     Where  is  his  body?    Let  the  Hurons  see 
his  scalp !  " 

"  He  is  not  dead,  but  escaped." 

Magua  shook  his  head  incredulously. 

"  Is  he  a  bird,  to  spread  his  wings ;  or  is  he  a  fish,  to 
swim  without  air!  The  white  chief  reads  in  his  books, 
and  he  believes  the  Hurons  are  fools !  " 

"  Though  no  fish,  The  Long  Rifle  can  swim.  He 
floated  down  the  stream  when  the  powder  was  all  burnt, 
and  when  the  eyes  of  tlje  Hurons  were  behind  a  cloud." 

"And  why  did  the  white  chief  stay?"  demanded  the 
still  incredulous  Indian.  "  Is  he  a  stone  that  goes  to  the 
bottom,  or  does  the  scalp  burn  his  head  ? " 

"  That  I  am  not  a  stone,  your  dead  comrade,  who  fell 
into  the  falls,  might  answer,  were  the  life  still  in  him," 
said  the  provoked  young  man,  using,  in  his  anger,  that 
boastful  language  which  was  most  likely  to  excite  the 
admiration  of  an  Indian.  '  The  white  man  thinks  none 
but  cowards  desert  their  women." 

Magua  muttered  a  few  words,  inaudibly,  between  his 
teeth,  before  he  continued,  aloud, — 

"  Can  the  Delawares  swim,  too,  as  well  as  crawl  in  the 
bushes  ?  Where  is  Le  Gros  Serpent  ?  " 

Duncan,  who  perceived  by  the  use  of  these  Canadian 
appellations,  that  his  late  companions  were  much  better 
known  to  his  enemies  than  to  himself,  answered,  reluc 
tantly,  "  He  also  is  gone  down  with  the  water." 

"  Le  Cerf  Agile  is  not  here?  " 

*  "  I  know  not  whom  you  call  '  The  Nimble  Deer/  " 
said  Duncan,  gladly  profiting  by  any  excuse  to  create 
delay. 

"  Uncas,"  returned  Magua,  pronouncing  the  Delaware 
name  with  even  greater  difficulty  than  he  spoke  his  Eng- 


126  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

-lish  words.  "  '  Bounding  Elk '  is  what  the  white  man 
Says,  when  he  calls  to  the  young  Mohican." 

"  Here  is  some  confusion  in  names  between  us,  Le 
Renard,"  said  Duncan,  hoping  to  provoke  a  discussion. 
" Daim  is  the  French  for  deer,  and  cerf  for  stag;  elan 
is  the  true  term,  when  one  would  speak  of  an  elk." 

"  Yes,"  muttered  the  Indian,  in  his  native  tongue ;  "  the 
pale-faces  are  prattling  women !  they  have  two  words  for 
each  thing,  while  a  redskin  will  make  the  sound  of  his 
voice  speak  for  him."  Then  changing  his  language,  he 
continued,  adhering  to  the  imperfect  nomenclature  of  his 
provincial  instructors,  "The  deer  is  swift,  but  weak; 
the  elk  is  swift;  but  strong;  and  the  son  of  Le  Serpent 
is  Le  Cerf  Agile.  Has  he  leaped  the  river  to  the  woods  ?  " 

"If  you  mean  the  younger  Delaware,  he  too  is  gone 
down  with  the  water." 

As  there  was  nothing  improbable  to  an  Indian  in  the 
manner  of  the  escape,  Magua  admitted  the  truth  of  what 
he  had  heard,,  with  a  readiness  that  afforded  additional 
evidence  how  little  he  would  prize  such  worthless  cap 
tives.  With  his  companions,  however,  the  feeling  was 
manifestly  different. 

The  Hurons  had  awaited  the  result  of  this  short  dia 
logue  with  characteristic  patience,  and  with  a  silence  that 
increased  until  there  was  a  general  stillness  in  the  band. 
When  Heyward  ceased  to  speak,  they  turned  their  eyes, 
as  one  man,  on  Magua,  demanding,  in  this  expressive 
manner,  an  explanation  of  what  had  been  said.  Their 
interpreter  pointed  to  the  river,  and  made  them  ac 
quainted  with  the  result,  as  much  by  the  action  as  by 
the  few  words  he  uttered.  When  the  fact  was  generally 
understood,  the  savages  raised  a  frightful  yell,  which 
declared  the  extent  of  their  disappointment.  Some  ran 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  127 

furiously  to  the  water's  edge,  beating  the  air  with  frantic 
gestures,  while  others  spat  upon  the  element,  to  resent 
the  supposed  treason  it  had  committed  against  their 
acknowledged  rights  as  conquerors.  A  few,  and  they 
not  the  least  powerful  and  terrific  of  the  band,  threw 
lowering  looks,  in  which  the  fiercest  passion  was  only 
tempered  by  habitual  self-command,  at  those  captives 
who  still  remained  in  their  power;  while  one  or  two 
even  gave  vent  to  their  malignant  feelings  by  the  most 
menacing  gestures,  against  which  neither  the  sex  nor 
the  beauty  of  the  sisters  was  any  protection.  The  young 
soldier  made  a  desperate,  but  fruitless  effort,  to  spring 
to  the  side  of  Alice,  when  he  saw  the  dark  hand  of  a 
savage  twisted  in  the  rich  tresses  which  were  flowing  in 
volumes  over  her  shoulders,  while  a  knife  was  passed 
around  the  head  from  which  they  fell,  as  if  to  denote 
the  horrid  manner  in  which  it  was  about  to  be  robbed  of 
its  beautiful  ornament.  But  his  hands  were  bound;  and 
at  the  first  movement  he  made,  he  felt  the  grasp  of  the 
powerful  Indian  who  directed  the  band,  pressing  his 
shoulder  like  a  vise.  Immediately  conscious  how  una 
vailing  any  struggle  against  such  an  overwhelming  force 
must  prove,  he  submitted  to  his  fate,  encouraging  his 
gentle  companions  by  a  few  low  and  tender  assurances, 
that  the  natives  seldom  failed  to  threaten  more  than  they 
performed. 

But,  while  Duncan  resorted  to  these  words  of  conso 
lation  to  quiet  the  apprehensions  of  the  sisters,  he  was 
not  so  weak  as  to  deceive  himself.  He  well  knew  that 
the  authority  of  an  Indian  chief  was  so  little  conven 
tional,  that  it  was  oftener  maintained  by  physical  supe 
riority  than  by  any  moral  supremacy  he  might  possess. 
The  danger  was,  therefore,  magnified  exactly  in  propor- 


128  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

tion  to  the  number  of* the  savage  spirits  by  which  they 
were  surrounded.  The  most  positive  mandate  from 
him  who  seemed  the  acknowledged  leader,  was  liable  to 
be  violated  at  each  moment,  by  any  rash  hand  that  might 
choose  to  sacrifice  a  victim  to  the  manes  of  some  dead 
friend  or  relative.  While,  therefore,  he  sustained  an 
outward  appearance  of  calmness  and  fortitude,  his  heart 
leaped  into  his  throat,  whenever  any  of  their  fierce  cap 
tors  drew  nearer  than  common  to  the  helpless  sisters,  or 
fastened  one  of  their  sullen  wandering  looks  on  those 
fragile  forms  which  were  so  little  able  to  resist  the 
slightest  assault. 

His  apprehensions  were,  however,  greatly  relieved, 
when  he  saw  that  the  leader  had  summoned  his  warriors 
to  himself  in  council.  Their  deliberations  were  short, 
and  it  would  seem,  by  the  silence  of  most  of  the  party, 
the  decision  unanimous.  By  the  frequency  with  which 
the  few  speakers  pointed  in  the  direction  of  the  encamp 
ment  of  Webb,  it  was  apparent  they  dreaded  the  ap 
proach  of  danger  from  that  quarter.  This  consideration 
probably  hastened  their  determination,  and  quickened  the 
subsequent  movements. 

During  this  short  conference,  Heyward,  finding  a 
respite  from  his  greatest  fears,  had  leisure  to  admire  the 
cautious  manner  in  which  the  Hurons  had  made  their 
approaches,  even  after  hostilities  had  ceased. 

It  has  already  been  stated,  that  the  upper  half  of  the 
island  was  a  naked  rock,  and  destitute  of  any  other  de 
fenses  than  a  few  scattered  logs  of  drift-wood.  They 
had  selected  this  point  to  make  their  descent,  having 
borne  the  canoe  through  the  wood  around  the  cataract 
for  that  purpose.  Placing  their  arms  in  the  little  vessel, 
a  dozen  men  clinging  to  its  sides  had  trusted  themselves 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  129 

to  the  direction  of  the  canoe,  which  was  controlled  by 
two  of  the  most  skilful  warriors,  in  attitudes  that  en 
abled  them  to  command  a  view  of  the  dangerous  pas 
sage.  Favored  by  this  arrangement,  'they  touched  the 
head  of  the  island  at  that  point  which  had  proved  so 
fatal  to  their  first  adventures,  but  with  the  advantages 
of  superior  numbers,  and  the  possession  of  firearms. 
That  such  had  been  the  manner  of  their  descent  was 
rendered  quite  apparent  to  Duncan;  for  they  now  bore 
the  light  bark  from  the  upper  end  of  the  rock,  and  placed 
it  in  the  water,  near  the  mouth  of  the  outer  cavern.  As 
soon  as  this  change  was  made,  the  leader  made  signs  to 
the  prisoners  to  descend  and  enter. 

As  resistance  was  impossible,  and  remonstrance  use 
less,  Heyward  set  the  example  of  submission,  by  leading 
the  way  into  the  canoe,  where  he  was  soon  seated  with 
the  sisters,  and  the  still  wondering  David.  Notwith 
standing  the  Hurons  were  necessarily  ignorant  of  the 
little  channels  among  the  eddies  and  rapids  of  the  stream, 
they  knew  the  common  signs  of  such  a  navigation  too 
well  to  commit  any  material  blunder.  When  the  pilot 
chosen  for  the  task  of  guiding  the  canoe  had  taken  his 
station,  the  whole  band  plunged  again  into  the  river,  the 
vessel  glided  down  the  current,  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  captives  found  themselves  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
stream,  nearly  opposite  to  the  point  where  they  had 
struck  it  the  preceding  evening. 

Here  was  held  another  short  but  earnest  consultation, 
during  which  the  horses,  to  whose  panic  their  owners 
ascribed  their  heaviest  misfortune,  were  led  from  the 
cover  of  the  woods,  and  brought  to  the  sheltered  spot. 
The  band  now  divided.  The  great  chief  so  often  men 
tioned,  mounting  the  charger  of  Heyward,  led  the  way 


130  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

directly  across  the  river,  followed  by  most  of  his  people, 
and  disappeared  in  the  woods,  leaving  the  prisoners  in 
charge  of  six  savages,  at  whose  head  was  Le  Renard 
Subtil.  Duncan  witnessed  all  their  movements  with  re 
newed  uneasiness. 

He  had  been  fond  of  believing,  from  the  uncommon 
forbearance  of  the  savages,  that  he  was  reserved  as  a 
prisoner  to  be  delivered  to  Montcalm.  As  the  thoughts 
of  those  who  are  in  misery  seldom  slumber,  and  the  in 
vention  is  never  more  lively  than  when  it  is  stimulated 
by  hope,  however  feeble  and  remote,  he  had  even  imag 
ined  that  the  parental  feelings  of  Munro  were  to  be  made 
instrumental  in  seducing  him  from  his  duty  to  the  king. 
For  though  the  French  commander  bore  a  high  char 
acter  for  courage  and  enterprise,  he  was  also  thought  to 
be  expert  in  those  political  practices,  which  do  not  always 
respect  the  nicer  obligations  of  morality,  and  which  so 
generally  disgraced  the  European  diplomacy  of  that 
period. 

All  those  busy  and  ingenious  speculations  were  now 
annihilated  by  the  conduct  of  his  captors.  That  portion 
of  the  band  who  had  followed  the  huge  warrior  took  the 
route  towards  the  foot  of  the  Horican,  and  no  other 
expectation  was  left  for  himself  and  companions,  than 
that  they  were  to  be  retained  as  hopeless  captives  by 
their  savage  conquerors.  Anxious  to  know  the  worst, 
and  willing,  in  such  an  emergency,  to  try  the  potency  of 
gold,  he  overcame  his  reluctance  to  speak  to  Magua. 
Addressing  himself  to  his  former  guide,  who  had  now 
assumed  the  authority  and  manner  of  one  who  was 
to  direct  the  future  movements  of  the  party,  he 
said,  in  tones  as  friendly  and  confiding  as  he  could 
assume, — 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  131 

"  I  would  speak  to  Magua,  what  is  fit  only  for  so 
great  a  chief  to  hear." 

The  Indian  turned  his  eyes  on  the  young  soldier  scorn 
fully,  as  he  answered, — 

"  Speak ;  trees  have  no  ears !  " 

"  But  the  red  Hurons  are  not  deaf ;  and  counsel  that 
is  fit  for  the  great  men  of  a  nation  would  make  the  young 
warriors  drunk.  If  Magua  will  not  listen,  the  officer  of 
the  king  knows  how  to  be  silent." 

The  savage  spoke  carelessly  to  his  comrades,  who  were 
busied,  after  their  awkward  manner,  in  preparing  the 
horses  for  the  reception  of  the  sisters,  and  moved  a  lit 
tle  to  one  side,  whither,  by  a  cautious  gesture,  he  induced 
Heyward  to  follow. 

''Now  speak,"  he  said;  "if  the  words  are  such  as 
Magua  should  hear." 

"  Le  Renard  Subtil  has  proved  himself  worthy  of  the 
honorable  name  given  to  him  by  his  Canada  fathers," 
commenced  Heyward ;  "  I  see  his  wisdom,  and  all  that 
he  has  done  for  us,  and  shall  remember  it,  when  the 
hour  to  reward  him  arrives.  Yes!  Renard  has  proved 
that  he  is  not  only  a  great  chief  in  council,  but  one  who 
knows  how  to  deceive  his  enemies !  " 

"What  has  Renard  done?"  coldly  demanded  the 
Indian. 

"  What !  has  he  not  seen  that  the  woods  were  filled 
with  outlying  parties  of  the  enemies,  and  that  the  Ser 
pent  could  not  steal  through  them  without  being  seen? 
Then,  did  he  not  lose  his  path  to  blind  the  eyes  of  the 
Hurons?  Did  he  not  pretend  to  go  back  to  his  tribe, 
who  had  treated  him  ill,  and  driven  him  from  their  wig 
wams  like  a  dog?  And,  when  we  saw  what  he  wished 
to  do,  did  we  not  aid  him,  by  making  a  false  face,  that 


132  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 


the  Hurons  might  think  the  white  man  believed  that  his 
friend  was  his  enemy?  Is  not  all  this  true?  And  when 
Le  Subtil  had  shut  the  eyes  and  stopped  the  ears  of  his 
nation  by  his  wisdom,  did  they  not  forget  that  they  had 
once  done  him  wrong,  and  forced  him  to  flee  to  the  Mo 
hawks  ?  And  did  they  not  leave  him  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  with  their  prisoners,  while  they  have  gone 
foolishly  on  the  north?  Does  not  Renard  mean  to  turn 
like  a  fox  on  his  footsteps,  and  to  carry  to  the  rich  and/ 
gray-headed  Scotchman  his  daughters?  Yes,  Magua  Yl 
see  it  all,  and  I  have  already  been  thinking  how  so  muih 
wisdom  and  honesty  should  be  repaid.  First,  the  chiet\ 
of  William  Henry  will  give  as  a  great  chief  should  for 
such  a  service.  The  medal '  of  Magua  will  no  longer 
be  of  tin,  but  of  beaten  gold;  his  horn  will  run  over 
with  powder;  dollars  -will  be  as  plenty  in  his  pouch  as 
pebbles  on  the  shore  of  Horican ;  and  the  deer  will  lick 
his  hand,  for  they  will  know  it  to  be  vain  to  fly  from 
the  rifle  he  will  carry!  As  for  myself,  I  know  not  how 
to  exceed  the  gratitude  of  the  Scotchman,  but  I — yes, 
I  will—" 

"  What  will  the  young  chief  who  comes  from  towards 
the  sun,  give  ? "  demanded  the  Huron,  observing  that 
Heyward  hesitated  in  his  desire  to  end  the  enumeration 
of  benefits  with  that  which  might  form  the  climax  of  an 
Indian's  wishes. 

"  He  will  make  the  fire-water  from  the  Islands  in  the 
salt  lake  flow  before  the  wigwam  of  Magua,  until  the 

1  It  has  long  been  a  practice  with  the  whites  to  conciliate  the 
important  men  of  the  Indians,  by  presenting  medals,  which  are 
worn  in  the  place  of  their  own  rude  ornaments.  Those  given 
by  the  English  generally  bear  the  impression  of  the  reigning 
king,  and  those  given  by  the  Americans  that  of  the  president. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  133 

heart  of  the  Indian  shall  be  lighter  than  the  feathers  of 
the  humming-bird,  and  his  breath  sweeter  than  the  wild 
honeysuckle." 

Le  Renard  had  listened  gravely  as  Heyward  slowly 
proceeded  in  this  subtle  speech.  When  the  young  man 
mentioned  the  artifice  he  supposed  the  Indian  to  have 
practised  on  his  own  nation,  the  countenance  of  the  lis 
tener  was  veiled  in  an  expression  of  cautious  gravity. 
At  the  allusion  to  the  injury  which  Duncan  affected  to 
believe  had  driven  the  Huron  from  his  native  tribe,  a 
gleam  of  such  ungovernable  ferocity  flashed  from  the 
other's  eyes,  as  induced  the  adventurous  speaker  to  be 
lieve  he  had  struck  the  proper  chord.  And  by  the  time 
he  reached  the  part  where  he  so  artfully  blended  the 
thirst  of  vengeance  with  the  desire  of  gain,  he  had,  at 
least,  obtained  a  command  of  the  deepest  attention  of  the 
savage.  The  question  put  by  Le  Renard  had  been  calm, 
and  with  all  the  dignity  of  an  Indian;  but  it  was  quite 
apparent,  by  the  thoughtful  expression  of  the  listener's 
countenance,  that  the  ^answer  was  most  cunningly  de 
vised.  The  Huron  mused  a  few  moments,  and  then 
laying  his  hand  on  the  rude  bandages  of  his  wounded 
shoulder,  he  said,  with  some  energy, — 

"  Do  friends  make  such  marks  ?  " 

"  Would  La  Longue  Carabine  cut  one  so  light  on  an 
enemy?  " 

"  Do  the  Delawares  crawl  upon  those  they  love,  like 
snakes,  twisting  themselves  to  strike  ?  " 

"  Would  Le  Gros  Serpent  have  been  heard  by  the  ears 
of  one  he  wished  to  be  deaf  ?  " 

"  Does  the  white  chief  burn  his  powder  in  the  faces  of 
his  brothers  ?  " 

"  Does  he  ever  miss  his  aim,  "when  seriously  bent  to 


134  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

kill  ? "  returned  Duncan,  smiling/  with  well  acted  sin 
cerity. 

Another  long  and^Miber-ate  pause  succeeded  these 
sententious  questions  and  ready  replies.  Duncan  saw 
that  the  Indian  hesitated.  In  order  to  complete  his  vic 
tory,  he  was  in  the  act  of  recommencing  the  enumeration 
of  the  rewards,  when  Magua  made  an  expressive  ges 
ture  and  said — 

"  Enough ;  Le  Renard  is  a  wise  chief,  and  what  he  does 
will  be  seen.  Go,  and  keep  the  mouth  shut.  When 
Magua  speaks,  it  will  be  the  time  to  answer." 

Heyward,  perceiving  that  the  eyes  of  his  companion 
were  warily  fastened  on  the  rest  of  the  band,  fell  back 
immediately,  in  order  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  any 
suspicious  confederacy  with  their  leader.  Magua  ap 
proached  the  horses,  and  affected  to  be  well  pleased  with 
the  diligence  and  ingenuity  of  his  comrades.  He  then 
signed  to  Heyward  to  assist  the  sisters  into  the  saddles, 
for  he  seldom  deigned  to  use  the  English  tongue,  unless 
.  urged  by  some  motive  of  more  than  usual  moment. 

There  was  no  longer  any  plausible  pretext  for  delay ; 
and  Duncan  was  obliged,  however  reluctantly,  to  comply. 
As  he  performed  this  office,  he  whispered  his  reviving 
hopes  in  the  ears  of  the  trembling  females,  who,  through 
dread  of  encountering  the  savage  countenances  of  their 
captors,  seldom  raised  their  eyes  from  the  ground.  The 
mare  of  David  had  been  taken  with  the  followers  of  the 
large  chief;  in  consequence,  its  owner,  as  well  as  Dun 
can,  was  compelled  to  journey  on  foot.  The  latter  did 
not,  however,  so  much  regret  this  circumstance,  as  it 
might  enable  him  to  retard  the  speed  of  the  party;  for 
he  still  turned  his  longing  looks  in  the  direction  of  Fort 
Edward,  in  the  vain  expectation  of  catching  some  sound 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  135 

from  that  quarter  of  the  forest,  which  might  denote  the 
approach  of  succor. 

When  all  were  prepared,  Magua  made  the  signal  to 
proceed,  advancing  in  front  to  lead  the  party  in  person. 
Next  followed  David,  who  was  gradually  coming  to  a 
true  sense  of  his  condition,  as  the  effects  of  the  wound 
became  less  and  less  apparent.  The  sisters  rode  in  his 
rear,  with  Heyward  at  their  side,  while  the  Indians 
flanked  the  party,  and  brought  up  the  close  of  the  march, 
with  a  caution  that  seemed  never  to  tire. 

In  this  manner  they  proceeded  in  uninterrupted  silence, 
except  when  Heyward  addressed  some  solitary  word  of 
comfort  to  the  females,  or  David  gave  vent  to  the  moan- 
ings  of  his  spirit  in  piteous  exclamations,  which  he  in 
tended  should  express  the  humility  of  resignation.  Their 
direction  lay  towards  the  south,  and  in  a  course  nearly 
opposite  to  the  road  to  William  Henry.  Notwithstand 
ing  this  apparent  adherence  in  Magua  to  the  original 
determination  of  his  conquerors,  Heyward  could  not  be 
lieve  his  tempting  bait  was  so  soon  forgotten ;  and  he 
knew  the  windings  of  an  Indian  path  too  well,  to  sup 
pose  that  its  apparent  course  led  directly  to  its  object, 
when  artifice  was  at  all  necessary.  Mile  after  mile  was, 
however,  passed  through  the  boundless  woods,  in  this 
painful  manner,  without  any  prospect  of  a  termination 
to  their  journey.  Heyward  watched  the  sun,  as  he  darted 
his  meridian  rays  through  the  branches  of  the  trees,  and 
pined  for  the"  moment  when  the  policy  of  Magua  should 
change  their  route  to  one  more  favorable  to  his  hopes. 
Sometimes  he  fancied  the  wary  savage,  despairing  of 
passing  the  army  of  Montcalm  in  safety,  was  holding 
his  way  towards  a  well-known  border  settlement,  where 
a  distinguished  officer  of  the  crown,  and  a  favored  friend 


136  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

of  the  Six  Nations,  hejdnis  large  possessions,  as  well 
as  his  usual  residence.  To  be  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  Sir  William  Johnson  was  far  preferable  to  being  led 
into  the  wilds  of  Canada;  but  in  order  to  effect  even  the 
former,  it  would  be  necessary  to  traverse  the  forest  for 
many  weary  leagues,  each  step  of  which  was  carrying 
him  farther  from  the  scene  of  the  war,  and,  consequently, 
from  the  post,  not  only  of  honor,  but  of  duty. 

Cora  alone  remembered  the  parting  injunctions  of  the 
scout,  and  whenever  an  opportunity  offered,  she  stretched 
forth  her  arm  to  bend  aside  the  twigs  that  met  her  hands. 
But  the  vigilance  of  the  Indians  rendered  this  act  of 
precaution  both  difficult  and  dangerous.  She  was  often 
defeated  in  her  purpose,  by  encountering  their  watchful 
eyes,  when  it  became  necessary  to  feign  an  alarm  she 
did  not  feel,  and  occupy  the  limb  by  some  gesture  of 
feminine  apprehension.  Once,  and  once  only,  was  she 
completely  successful;  when  she  broke  down  the  bough 
of  a  large  sumach,  and,  by  a  sudden  thought,  let  her 
glove  fall  at  the  same  instant.  This  sign,  intended  for 
those  that  might  follow,  was  observed  by  one  of  her 
conductors,  who  restored  the  glove,  broke  the  remaining 
branches  of  the  bush  in  such  a  manner  that  it  appeared 
to  proceed  from  the  struggling  of  some  beast  in  its 
branches,  and  then  laid  his  hand  on  his  tomahawk,  with 
a  look  so  significant,  that  it  put  an  effectual  end  to  these 
stolen  memorials  of  their  passage. 

As  there  were  horses,  to  leave  the  prints  -of  their  foot 
steps,  in  both  bands  of  the  Indians,  this  interruption  cut 
off  any  probable  hopes  of  assistance  being  conveyed 
through  the  means  of  their  trail. 

Heyward  would  have  ventured  a  remonstrance,  had 
there  been  anything  encouraging  in  the  gloomy  reserve 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  137 

of  Magua.  But  the  savage,  during  all  this  time,  seldom 
turned  to  look  at  his  followers,  and  never  spoke.  With 
the  sun  for  his  only  guide,  or  aided  by  such  blind  marks 
as  are  only  known  to  the  sagacity  of  a  native,  he  held 
his  way  along  the  barrens  of  pine,  through  occasional 
little  fertile  vales,  across  brooks  and  rivulets,  and  over 
undulating  hills,  with  the  accuracy  of  instinct,  and  nearly 
with  the  directness  of  a  bird.  He  never  seemed  to  hesi 
tate.  Whether  the  path  was  hardly  distinguishable, 
whether  it  disappeared,  or  whether  it  lay  beaten  and 
plain  before  him,  made  no  sensible  difference  in  his  speed 
or  certainty.  It  seemed  as  if  fatigue  could  not  affect 
him.  Whenever  the  eyes  of  the  wearied  travelers  rose 
from  the  decayed  leaves  over  which  they  trod,  his  dark 
form  was  to  be  seen  glancing  among  the  stems  of  the 
trees  in  front,  his  head  immovably  fastened  in  a  forward 
position,  with  the  light  plume  on  his  crest  fluttering  in 
a  current  of  air,  made  solely  by  the  swiftness  of  his 
own  motion. 

But  all  this  diligence  and  speed  were  not  without  an 
object.  After  crossing  a  low  vale,  through  which  a  gush 
ing  brook  meandered,  he  suddenly  ascended  a  hill,  so 
steep  and  difficult  of  ascent,  that  the  sisters  were  com 
pelled  to  alight,  in  order  to  follow.  When  the  summit 
was  gained,  they  found  themselves  on  a  level  spot,  but 
thinly  covered  with  trees,  under  one  of  which  Magua 
had  thrown  his  dark  form,  as  if  willing  and  ready  to 
seek  that  rest  which  was  so  much  needed  by  the  whole 
party. 


CHAPTER 
XL 


"  Cursed  be  my  tribe 
If  I  forgive  him." 

Shylock. 

THE  Indian  had  selected,  for  this  desirable  purpose, 
one  of  those  steep,  pyramidal  hills,  which  bear  a 
strong  resemblance  to  artificial  mounds,  and  which  so 
frequently  occur  in  the  valleys  of  America.  The  one 
in  question  was  high  and  precipitous ;  its  top  flattened, 
as  usual;  but  with  one  of  its  sides  more  than  ordinarily 
irregular.  It  possessed  no  other  apparent  advantage  for 
a  resting-place,  than  in  its  elevation  and  form,  which 
might  render  defense  easy,  and  surprise  nearly  impossi 
ble.  As  Heyward,  however,  no  longer  expected  that 
rescue  which  time  and  distance  now  rendered  so  im 
probable,  he  regarded  these  little  peculiarities  with  an 
eye  devoid  of  interest,  devoting  himself  entirely  to  the 
comfort  and  condolence  of  his  feebler  companions.  The 
Narragansetts  were  suffered  to  browse  on  the  branches 
of  the  trees  and  shrubs  that  were  thinly  scattered  over 
the  summit  of  the  hill,  while  the  remains  of  their  provi 
sions  were  spread  under  the  shade  of  a  beech,  that 

138 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  139 

stretched  its  horizontal  limbs  like  a  canopy  above 
them. 

Notwithstanding  the  swiftness  of  their  flight,  one  of 
the  Indians  had  found  an  opportunity  to  strike  a  strag 
gling  fawn  with  an  arrow,  and  had  borne  the  more 
preferable  fragments  of  the  victim  patiently  on  his  shoul 
ders,  to  the  stopping-place.  Without  any  aid  from  the 
science  of  cookery,  he  was  immediately  employed,  in 
common  with  his  fellows,  in  gorging  himself  with  this 
digestible  sustenance.  Magua  alone  sat  apart,  without 
participation  in  the  revolting  meal,  and  .apparently  buried 
in  the  deepest  thought. 

This  abstinence,  so  remarkable  in  an  Indian,  when 
he  possessed  the  means  of  satisfying  hunger,  at  length 
attracted  the  notice  of  Heyward.  The  young  man  will 
ingly  believed  that  the  Huron  deliberated  on  the  most 
eligible  manner  of  eluding  the  vigilance  of  his  associates. 
With  a  view  to  assist  his  plans,  by  any  suggestion  of  his 
own,  and  to  strengthen  the  temptation,  he  left  the  beech, 
and  straggled,  as  if  without  an  object,  to  the  spot  where 
Le  Renard  was  seated. 

"  Has  not  Magua  kept  the  sun  in  his  face  long  enough 
to  escape  all  danger  from  the  Canadians  ? "  he  asked, 
as  though  no  longer  doubtful  of  the  good  intelligence  es 
tablished  between  them;  "  and  will  not  the  chief  of 
William  Henry  be  better  pleased  to  see  his  daughters 
before  another  night  may  have  hardened  his  heart  to 
their  loss,  to  make  him  less  liberal  in  his  reward  ?  " 

"  Do  the  pale-faces  love  their  children  less  in  the  morn 
ing  than  at  night  ?  "  asked  the  Indian,  coldly. 

"  By  no  means,"  returned  Heyward,  anxious  to  recall 
his  error,  if  he  had  made  one;  "  the  white  man  may,  and 
does  often,  forget  the  burial-place  of  his  fathers;  he 


140  The  Last  of  the   Mohicans 

sometimes  ceases  to  remember  those  he  should  love,  and 
has  promised  to  cherish;  but  the  affection  of  a  parent 
for  his  child  is  never  permitted  to  die." 

"  And  is  the  heart  of  the  white-headed  chief  soft,  and 
will  he  think  of  the  babes  that  his  squaws  have  given 
him?  He  is  hard  to  his  warriors,  and  his  eyes  are  made 
of  stone !  " 

"  He  is  severe  to  the  idle  and  wicked,  but  to  the  sober 
and  deserving  he  is  a  leader,  both  just  and  humane.  I 
have  known  many  fond  and  tender  parents,  but  never 
have  I  seen  a  man  whose  heart  was  softer  towards  his 
child.  You  have  seen  the  gray-head  in  front  of  his  war 
riors,  Magua ;  but  I  have  seen  his  eyes  swimming  in 
water,  when  he  spoke  of  those  children  who  are  now  in 
your  power !  " 

Heyward  paused,  for  he  knew  not  how  to  construe  the 
remarkable  expression  that  gleamed  across  the  swarthy 
features  of  the  attentive  Indian.  At  first  it  seemed  as 
if  the  remembrance  of  the  promised  reward  grew  vivid  in 
his  mind,  while  he  listened  to  the  sources  of  parental 
feeling  which  were  to  assure  its  possession;  but  as  Dun 
can  proceeded,  the  expression  of  joy  became  so  fiercely 
malignant,  that  it  was  impossible  not  to  apprehend 
it  proceeded  from  some  passion  more  sinister  than 
avarice. 

"  Go,"  said  the  Huron,  suppressing  the  alarming  ex 
hibition  in  an  instant,  in  a  death-like  calmness  of  coun 
tenance  ;  "  go  to  the  dark-haired  daughter,  and  say  Magua 
waits  to  speak.  The  father  will  remember  what  the 
child  promises." 

Duncan,  who  interpreted  this  speech  to  express  a  wish 
for  some  additional  pledge  that  the  promised  gifts  should 
not  be  withheld,  slowly  and  reluctantly  repaired  to  the 


The  Last  of  the   Mohicans  141 

place   where  the   sisters   were   no  ^   from   their 

fatigue,  to  communicate  its  purport  to  Cora. 

"  You  understand  the  nature  of  an  Indian's  wishes," 
he  concluded,  as  he  led  her  towards  the  place  where 
she  was  expected,  "  and  must  be  prodigal  of  your  offers 
of  powder  and  blankets.  Ardent  spirits  are,  however, 
the  most  prized  by  such  as  he;  nor  would  it  be  amiss 
to  add  some  boon  from  your  own  hand,  with  that  grace 
you  so  well  know  how  to  practice.  Remember,  ' 
that  on  your  presence  of  mind  and  ingenuity  even  your 
life,  as  well  as  that  of  Alice,  may  in  some  measure 
depend." 

"  Heyward,  and  yo--. 

"Mine  is  of  little  moment;  it  is  already  sold  to  my 
;ing,  and  is  a  prize  to  be  seized  by  any  enemy  who  may 

>sess  the  power.  I  have  no  father  to  expect  me,  and 
but  few  friends  to  lament  a  fate  which  I  have  courted 
with  the  insatiable  longings  of  youth  after  distinction. 
But  hush !  we  approach  the  Indian.  Magua,  the  lady  with 
whom  you  wish  to  speak  is  here." 

The  Indian  rose  slowly  from  his  seat,  and  stood 
,for  near  a  minute  silent  and  motionless.  He  then 
signed  with  his  hand  for  Heyward  to  retire,  saying 
coldly, — 

"  When  the  Huron  talks  to  the  women,  his  tribe  shut 
their  ears." 

Duncan,  still  lingering,  as  if  refusing  to  comply, 
said,  with  a  calm  smile, — 

"  You  hear,  Heyward,  and  delicacy  at  least  should 
urge  you  to  retire.  Go  to  Alice,  and  comfort  her  with 
our  reviving  prospects." 

She  waited  until  he  had  departed,  and  then  turning 
to  the  native,  with  the  dignity  of  her  sex  in  her  voice 


142  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  manner,  she  added,  "  What  would  Le  Renard  say  ] 
to  the  daughter  of  Munro?" 

"  Listen,"    said    the    Indian,    laying    his    hand    firmly  I 
upon  her  arm,  as  if  willing  to  draw  her  utmost  atten-  j 
tion  to  his  words;  a  movement  that  Cora  as  firmly  but  I 
quietly  repulsed,  by  extricating  the  limb  from  his  grasp :  I 
"  Magua  was  born  a  chief  and  a  warrior  among  the  red  1 
/Hurons  of  the  lakes ;  he  saw  the  suns  of  twenty  sum-  I 
/  mers  make  the  snows  of  twenty  winters  run  off  in  the  I 
/    streams,  before  he  saw  a  pale-face;  and  he  was  happy !-l 
Then  his  Canada  fathers  came  into  the  woods,  and  taught  j 
I     him   to   drink  the   fire-water,   and   he   became   a   rascalyl 
^The  Hurons  drove  him  from  the  graves  of  his  fathers,  ' 
as  they  would  chase  the  hunted  buffalo.     He  ran  down  j 
the   shores   of   the   lakes,   and   followed   their   outlet   to  I 
the    '  city    of    cannon.'      There    he    hunted    and    fished, 
till    the    people    chased    him    again    through    the    woods 
into     the     arms     of     his     enemies.       The     chief,     who 
was  born  a   Huron,   was  at  last  a   warrior  among  the 
Mohawks !  " 

"  Something  like  this  I  had  heard  before,"  said  Cora,  1 
observing   that    he    paused   to    suppress    those    passions 
which  began  to  burn  with  too  bright  a  flame,  as  he  re 
called  the  recollection  of  his  supposed  injuries. 

"  Was  it  the  fault  of  Le  Renard  that  his  head  was  not 
made  of  rock  ?  Who  gave  him  the  fire-water  ?  who  made 
him  a  villain?  'Twas  the  pale-faces,  the  people  of  your 
own  color." 

"  And  am  I  answerable  that  thoughtless  and  unprinci 
pled  men  exist,  whose  shades  of  countenance  may  re 
semble  mine  ? "  Cora  calmly  demanded  of  the  excited 
savage. 

"  No ;  Magua  is  a  man,  and  not  a  fool ;  such  as  you 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  143 

never  open  their  lips  to  the  burning  stream:  the  Great 
Spirit  has  given  you  wisdom !  " 

"  What  then  have  I  to  do,  or  say,  in  the  matter  of 
your  misfortunes,  not  to  say  of  your  errors?" 

"  Listen,"  repeated  the  Indian,  resuming  his  earnest 
attitude ;  "  when  his  English  and  French  fathers  dug 
up  the  hatchet,  Le  Renard  struck  the  war-post  of  the 
Mohawks,  and  went  out  against  his  own  nation.  The 
pale-faces  have  driven  the  redskins  from  their  hunting- 
grounds,  and  now  when  they  fight,  a  white  man*  leads 
the  way.  The  old  chief  at  Horican,  your  father,  was 
the  great  captain  of  our  war-party.  He  said  to  the 
Mohawks  do  this,  and  do  that,  and  he  was  minded. 
He  made  a  law,  that  if  an  Indian  swallowed  the  fire 
water,  and  came  into  the  cloth  wigwams  of  his  warriors, 
it  should  not  be  forgotten.  Magua  foolishly  opened  his 
mouth,  and  the  hot  liquor  led  him  into  the  cabin  of 
Munro.  What  did  the  gray-head?  let  his  daughter  say." 

"  He  forgot  not  his  words,  and  did  justice  by  pun 
ishing  the  offender,"  said  the  undaunted  daughter. 

"  Justice !  "  repeated  the  Indian,  casting  an  oblique 
glance  of  the  most  ferocious  expression  at  her  unyielding 
countenance;  "is  it  justice  to  make  evil,  and  then  pun 
ish  for  it?  Magua  was  not  himself;  it  was  the  fire 
water  that  spoke  and  acted  for  him!  but  Munro  did  not 
believe  it.  The  Huron  chief  was  tied  up  before  all  the 
pale-faced  warriors,  and  whipped  like  a  dog." 

Cora  remained  silent,  for  she  knew  not  how  to  palliate 
this  imprudent  seventy  on  the  part  of  her  father,  in  a 
manner  to  suit  the  comprehension  of  an  Indian. 

"See!"  continued  Magua,  tearing  aside  the  slight 
calico  that  very  imperfectly  concealed  his  painted  breast; 
"  here  are  scars  given  by  knives  and  bullets — of  these  a 


144  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

warrior  may  boast  before  his  nation;  but  the  gray-head 
has  left  marks  on  the  back  of  the  Huron  chief,  that  he 
must  hide,  like  a  squaw,  under  this  painted  cloth  of  the 
whites." 

"  I  had  thought,"  resumed  Cora,  "  that  an  Indian  war 
rior  was  patient,  and  that  his  spirit  felt  not,  and  knew 
not,  the  pain  his  body  suffered." 

"  When  the  Chippewas  tied  Magua  to  the  stake,  and 
cut  this  gash,"  said  the  other,  laying  his  finger  on  a 
deep  scar,  "  the  Huron  laughed  in  their  faces,  and  told 
them,  Women  struck  so  light !  His  spirit  was  then  in 
the  clouds !  But  when  he  felt  the  blows  of  Munro,  his 
spirit  lay  under  the  birch.  The  spirit  of  a  Huron  is  < 
never  drunk ;  it  remembers  forever !  " 

"  But  it  may  be  appeased.  If  my  father  has  done  you 
this  injustice,  show  him  how  an  Indian  can  forgive  an 
injury,  and  take  back  his  daughters.  You  have  heard 
from  Major  Hey  ward — 

Magua  shook  his  head,  forbidding  the  repetition  of 
offers  he  so  much  despised. 

"What  would  you  have?"  continued  Cora,  after  a 
most  painful  pause,  while  the  conviction  forced  itself 
on  her  mind  that  the  too  sanguine  and  generous  Dun 
can  had  been  cruelly  deceived  by  the  cunning  of  the 
savage. 

"  What  a  Huron  loves — good  for  good ;  bad  for  bad !  " 

"  You  would  then  revenge  the  injury  inflicted  by 
Munro  on  his  helpless  daughters.  Would  it  not  be  more 
like  a  man  to  go  before  his  face,  and  take  the  satisfac 
tion  of  a  warrior?" 

;'  The  arms  of  the  pale-faces  are  long,  and  their  knives 
sharp !  "  returned  the  savage,  with  a  malignant  laugh : 
"  why  should  Le  Renard  go  among  the  muskets  of  his 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  145 

warriors,  when  he  holds  the  spirit  of  the  gray-head  in 
his  hand?" 

"  Name  your  intention,  Magua,"  said  Cora,  struggling 
with  herself  to  speak  with  steady  calmness.  "  Is  it  to 
lead  us  prisoners  to  the  woods,  or  do  you  contemplate 
even  some  greater  evil?  Is  there  no  reward,  no  means 
of  palliating  the  injury,  and  of  softening  your  heart?  At 
least,  release  my  gentle  sister,  and  pour  out  all  your 
malice  on  me.  Purchase  wealth  by  her  safety,  and  sat 
isfy  your  revenge  with  a  single  victim.  The  loss  of  both 
of  his  daughters  might  bring  the  aged  man  to  his  grave, 
and  where  would  then  be  the  satisfaction  of  Le 
Renard?  " 

"  Listen,"  said  the  Indian  again.  "  The  light  eyes 
can  go  back  to  4he  Horican,  and  tell  the  old  chief 
what  has  been  done,  if  the  dark-haired  woman  will 
swear  by  the  Great  Spirit  of  her  fathers  to  tell  no 
lie." 

"  What  must  I  promise  ?  "  demanded  Cora,  still  main 
taining  a  secret  ascendency  over  the  fierce  native,  by  the 
collected  and  feminine  dignity  of  her  presence. 

"  When  Magua  left  his  people,  his  wife  was  given  to 
another  chief;  he  has  now  made  friends  with  the  Hurons, 
and  will  go  back  to  the  graves  of  his  tribe,  on  the  shores 
of  the  great  lake.  Let  the  daughter  of  the  English  chief 
follow,  and  live  in  his  wigwam  forever." 

However  revolting  a  proposal  of  such  a  character 
might  prove  to  Cora,  she  retained,  notwithstanding  her 
powerful  disgust,  sufficient  self-command  to  reply,  with 
out  betraying  the  weakness. 

"  And  what  pleasure  would  Magua  find  in  sharing  his 
cabin  with  a  wife  he  did  not  love;  one  who  would  be  of 
a  nation  and  color  different  from  his  own?  It  would  be 


146  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

better  to  take  the  gold  of  Munro,  and  buy  the  heart  of 
some  Huron  maid  with  his  gifts." 

The  Indian  made  no  reply  for  near  a  minute,  but  bent 
his  fierce  looks  on  the  countenance  of  Cora,  in  such 
wavering  glances,  that  her  eyes  sank  with  shame,  under 
an  impression  that,  for  the  first  time,  they  had  encoun 
tered  an  expression  that  no  chaste  female  might  endure. 
While  she  was  shrinking  within  herself,  in  dread  of  hav 
ing  her  ears  wounded  by  some  proposal  still  more  shock 
ing  than  the  last,  the  voice  of  Magua  answered,  in  its 
tones  of  deepest  malignancy — 

"  When  the  blows  scorched  the  back  of  the  Huron,  he 
would  know  where  to  find  a  woman  to  feel  the  smart. 
The  daughter  of  Munro  would  draw  his  water,  hoe  his 
corn,  and  cook  his  venison.  The  body  of  the  gray-head 
would  sleep  among  his  cannon,  but  his  heart  would  lie 
within  reach  of  the  knife  of  Le  Subtil." 

"  Monster !  well  dost  thou  deserve  thy  treacherous 
name !  "  cried  Cora,  in  an  ungovernable  burst  of  filial 
indignation.  "  None  but  a  fiend  could  meditate  such  a 
vengeance!  But  thou  overratest  thy  power!  You  shall 
find  it  is,  in  truth,  the  heart  of  Munro  you  hold,  and 
that  it  will  defy  your  utmost  malice !  "  tf 

The  Indian  answered  this  bold  defiance  by  a  ghastly 
smile,  that  showed  an  unaltered  purpose,  while  he  mo 
tioned  her  away,  as  if  to  close  the  conference  forever. 
Cora,  already  regretting  her  precipitation,  was  obliged  to 
comply,  for  Magua  instantly  left  the  spot,  and  approached 
his  gljuttonous  comrades.  Heyward  flew  to  the  side  of 
the  agitated  female,  and  demanded  the  result  of  a  dia 
logue,  that  he  had  watched  at  a  distance  with  so  much 
interest.  But  unwilling  to  alarm  the  fears  of  Alice,  she 
evaded  a  direct  reply,  betraying  only  by  her  countenance 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  147 

her  utter  want  of  success,  and  keeping  her  anxious  looks 
fastened  on  the  slightest  movements  of  their  captors. 
To  the  reiterated  and  earnest  questions  of  her  sister, 
concerning  their  probable  destination,  she  made  no  other 
answer  than  by  pointing  towards  the  dark  group,  with 
an  agitation  she  could  not  control,  and  murmuring,  as 
she  folded  Alice  to  her  bosom — 

"  There,  there ;  read  our  fortunes  in  their  faces ;  we 
shall  see ;  we  shall  see !  " 

The  action,  and  the  choked  utterance  of  Cora,  spoke 
more  impressively  than  any  words,  and  quickly  drew  the 
attention  of  her  companions  on  that  spot  where  her 
own  was  riveted  with  an  intenseness  that  nothing  but 
the  importance  of  the  stake  could  create. 

When  Magua  reached  the  cluster  of  lolling  savages, 
who,  gorged  with  their  disgusting  meal,  lay  stretched  on 
the  earth  in  brutal  indulgence,  he  commenced  speaking 
with  the  dignity  of  an  Indian  chief.  The  first  syllables 
he  uttered  had  the  effect  to  cause  his  listeners  to  raise 
themselves  in  attitudes  of  respectful  attention.  As  the 
Huron  used  his  native  language,  the  prisoners,  notwith 
standing  the  caution  of  the  natives  had  kept  them  within 
the  swing  of  tfteir  tomahawks,  could  only  conjecture 
the  substance  of  his  harangue,  from  the  nature  of  those 
significant  gestures  with  which  an  Indian  always  illus 
trates  his  eloquence. 

At  first,  the  language,  as  well  as  the  action  of  Magua, 
appeared  calm  and  deliberative.  When  he  had  succeeded 
in  sufficiently  awakening  the  attention  of  his  comrades, 
Heyward  fancied,  by  his  pointing  so  frequently  toward 
the  direction  of  the  great  lakes,  that  he  spoke  of  the 
land  of  their  fathers,  and  of  their  distant  tribe.  Fre 
quent  indications  of  applause  escaped  the  listeners,  who, 


148  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

as  they  uttered  the  expressive  "  Hugh !  "  looked  at  each 
other  in  commendation  of  the  speaker.  Le  Renard  was 
too  skilful  to  neglect  his  advantage.  He  now  spoke  of 
the  long  and  painful  route  by  which  they  had  left  those 
spacious  grounds  and  happy  villages,  to  come  and  battle 
against  the  enemies  of  their  Canadian  fathers.  He  enu 
merated  the  warriors  of  the  party ;  their  several  merits ; 
their  frequent  services  to  the  nation;  their  wounds,  and 
the  number  of  the  scalps  they  had  taken.  Whenever 
he  alluded  to  any  present  (and  the  subtle  Indian  neg 
lected  none),  the  dark  countenance  of  the  flattered  indi 
vidual  gleamed  with  exultation,  nor  did  he  even  hesitate 
to  assert  the  truth  of  the  words,  by  gestures  of  applause 
and  confirmation.  Then  the  voice  of  the  speaker  fell, 
and  lost  the  loud,  animated  tones  of  triumph  with  which 
he  had  enumerated  their  deeds  of  success  and  victory. 
He  described  the  cataract  of  Glenn's;  the  impregnable 
position  of  its  rocky  island,  with  its  caverns,  and  its  nu 
merous  rapids  and  whirlpools ;  he  named  the  name  of 
La  Longue  Carabine,  and  paused  until  the  forest  beneath 
them  had  sent  up  the  last  echo  of  a  loud  and  long  yell, 
with  which  the  hated  appellation  was  received.  He 
pointed  toward  the  youthful  military  captive,  and  de 
scribed  the  death  of  a  favorite  warrior,  who  had  been 
precipitated  into  the  deep  ravine  by  his  hand.  He  not 
only  mentioned  the  fate  of  him  who,  hanging  between 
heaven  and  earth,  had  presented  such  a  spectacle  of  hor 
ror  to  the  whole  band,  but  he  acted  anew  the  terrors  of 
his  situation,  his  resolution  and  his  death,  on  the  branches 
of  a  sapling;  and,  finally,  he  rapidly  recounted  the  man 
ner  in  which  each. of  their  friends  had  fallen,  never  fail 
ing  to  touch  upon  their  courage,  and  their  most  acknowl 
edged  virtues.  When  this  recital  of  events  was  ended, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  149 

his  voice  once  more  changed,  and  became  plaintive,  and 
even  musical,  in  its  low  guttural  sounds.  He  now  spoke 
of  the  wives  and  children  of  the  slain ;  their  destitution ; 
their  misery,  both  physical  and  moral;  their  distance; 
and,  at  last,  of  their  unavenged  wrongs.  Then  suddenly 
lifting  his  voice  to  a  pitch  of  terrific  energy,  he  concluded, 
by  demanding,— 

"  Are  the  Hurons  dogs  to  bear  this  ?  Who  shall  say 
to  the  wife  of  Menowgua  that  the  fishes  have  his  scalp, 
and  that  his  nation  have  not  taken  revenge !  Who  will 
dare  meet  the  mother  of  Wassawattimie,  that  scornful 
woman,  with  his  hands  clean !  What  shall  be  said  to 
the  old  men  when  they  ask  us  for  scalps,  and  we  have 
not  a  hair  from  a  white  head  to  give  them !  The  women 
will  point  their  fingers  at  us.  There  is  a  dark  spot  on 
the  names  of  the  Hurons,  and  it  must  be  hid  in  blood !  " 

His  voice  was  no  longer  audible  in  the  burst  of  rage 
which  now  broke  into  the  air,  as  if  the  wood,  instead 
of  containing  so  small  a  band,  was  filled  with  the  na 
tion.  During  the  foregoing  address  the  progress  of  the 
speaker  was  too  plainly  read  by  those  most  interested 
in  his  success,  through  the  medium  of  the  countenances 
of  the  men  he  addressed.  They  had  answered  his  melan 
choly  and  mourning  by  sympathy  and  sorrow;  his  as 
sertions,  by  gestures  of  confirmation;  and  his  boastings, 
with  the  exultation  of  savages.  When  he  spoke  of  cour 
age,  their  looks  were  firm  and  responsive;  when  he 
alluded  to  their  injuries,  their  eyes  kindled  with  fury; 
when  he  mentioned  the  taunts  of  the  women,  they 
dropped  their  heads  in  shame ;  but  when  he  pointed  out 
their  means  of  vengeance,  he  struck  a  chord  which  never 
failed  to  thrill  in  the  breast  of  an  Indian.  With  the  first 
intimation  that  it  was  within  their  reach,  the  whole  band 


150  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

sprang  upon  their  feet  as  one  man;  giving  utterance  to 
their  rage  in  the  most  frantic  cries,  they  rushed  upon 
their  prisoners  in  a  body  with  drawn  knives  and  uplifted 
tomahawks.  Heyward  threw  himself  between  the  sisters 
and  the  foremost,  whom  he  grappled  with  a  desperate 
strength  that  for  a  moment  checked  his  violence.  This 
unexpected  resistance  gave  Magua  time  to  interpose, 
and  with  rapid  enunciation  and  animated  gesture,  he 
drew  the  attention  of  the  band  again  to  himself.  In  that 
language  he  knew  so  well  how  to  assume,  he  diverted  his 
comrades  from  their  instant  purpose,  and  invited  them 
to  prolong  the  misery  of  their  victims.  His  proposal  was 
received  with  acclamations,  and  executed  with  the  swift 
ness  of  thought. 

Two  powerful  warriors  cast  themselves  on  Heyward; 
while  another  was  occupied  in  securing  the  less  active 
singing-master.  Neither  of  the  captives,  however,  sub 
mitted  without  a  desperate  though  fruitless  struggle. 
Even  David  hurled  his  assailant  to  the  earth;  nor  was 
Heyward  secured  until  the  victory  over  his  companion 
enabled  the  Indians  to  direct  their  united  force  to  that 
object.  He  was  then  bound  and  fastened  to  the  body  of 
the  sapling,  on  whose  branches  Magua  had  acted  the  pan 
tomime  of  the  falling  Huron.  When  the  young  soldier 
regained  his  recollection,  he  had  the  painful  certainty 
before  his  eyes  that  a  common  fate  was  intended  for 
the  whole  party.  On  his  right  was  Cora,  in  a  durance 
similar  to  his  own,  pale  and  agitated,  but  with  an  eye, 
whose  steady  look  still  read  the  proceedings  of  their 
enemies.  On  his  left,  the  withes  which  bound  her  to  a 
pine,  performed  that  office  for  Alice  which  her  trembling 
limbs  refused,  and  alone  kept  her  fragile  form  from 
sinking.  Her  hands  were  clasped  before  her  in  prayer, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  151 

but  instead  of  looking  upwards  towards  that  power  which 
alone  could  rescue  them,  her  unconscious  looks  wandered 
to  the  countenance  of  Duncan  with  infantile  dependency. 
David  had  contended,  and  the  novelty  of  the  circum 
stance  held  him  silent,  in  deliberation  on  the  propriety 
of  the  unusual  occurrence. 

The  vengeance  of  the  Hurons  had  now  taken  a  new 
direction,  and  they  prepared  to  execute  it  with  that  bar 
barous  ingenuity  with  which  they  were  familiarized  by 
the  practice  of  centuries.  Some  sought  knots,  to  raise 
the  blazing  pile;  one  was  riving  the  splinters  of  pine, 
in  order  to  pierce  the  flesh  of  their  captives  with  the 
burning  fragments;  and  others  bent  the  tops  of  two 
saplings  to  the  earth,  in  order  to  suspend  Heyward  by 
the  arms  between  the  recoiling  branches.  But  the  venge 
ance  of  Magua  sought  a  deeper  and  a  more  malignant 
enjoyment. 

While  the  less  refined  monsters  of  the  band  pre 
pared,  before  the  eyes  of  those  who  were  to  suffer, 
these  well  known  and  vulgar  means  of  torture,  he  ap 
proached  Cora,  and  pointed  out,  with  the  most  malign 
expression  of  countenance,  the  speedy  fate  that  awaited 
her : — 

"  Ha !  "  he  added,  "  what  says  the  daughter  of  Munro? 
Her.  head  is  too  good  to  find  a  pillow  in  the  wigwam 
of  Le  Renard;  will  she  like  it  better  when  it  rolls  about 
this  hill  a  plaything  for  the  wolves?  Her  bosom  cannot 
nurse  the  children  of  a  Huron;  she  will  see  it  spit  upon 
by  Indians !  " 

"  What  means  the  monster !  "  demanded  the  astonished 
Heyward. 

"  Nothing !  "  was  the  firm  reply.  "  He  is  a  savage,  a 
barbarous  and  ignorant  savage,  and  knows  not  what  he 


152  The  Last  of  the,   Mohicans 

does.  Let  us  find  leisure,  with  our  dying  breath,  to  ask 
for  him  penitence  and  pardon." 

"  Pardon !  "  echoed  the  fierce  Huron,  mistaking,  in 
his  anger,  the  meaning  of  her  words ;  "  the  memory  of 
an  Indian  is  longer  than  the  arm  of  the  pale-faces;  his 
mercy  shorter  than  their  justice!  Say;  shall  I  send  the 
yellow  hair  to  her  father,  and  will  you  follow  Magua 
to  the  great  lakes,  to  carry  his  water,  and  feed  him  with 
corn  ?  " 

Cora  beckoned  him  away,  with  an  emotion  of  disgust 
she  could  not  control. 

"  Leave  me,"  she  said,  with  a  solemnity  that  for  a  mo 
ment  checked  the  barbarity  of  the  Indian ;  "  you  mingle 
bitterness  in  my  prayers;  you  stand  between  me  and  my 
God!" 

The  slight  impression  produced  on  the  savage  was, 
however,  soon  forgotten,  and  he  continued  pointing,  with 
taunting  irony,  towards  Alice. 

"  Look !  the  child  weeps !  She  is  young  to  die !  Send 
her  to  Munro,  to  comb  his  gray  hairs,  and  keep  life  in 
the  heart  of  the  old  man." 

Cora  could  not  resist  the  desire  to  look  upon  her  youth 
ful  sister,  in  whose  eyes  she  met  an  imploring  glance,  that 
betrayed  the  longings  of  nature. 

"  What  says  he,  dearest  Cora  ?  "  asked  the  trembling 
voice  of  Alice.  "  Did  he  speak  of  sending  me  to  our 
father?" 

For  many  moments  the  elder  sister  looked  upon 
the  younger,  with  a  countenance  that  wavered  with 
powerful  and  contending  emotions.  At  length  she 
spoke,  though  her  tones  had  lost  their  rich  and  calm 
fullness,  in  an  expression  of  tenderness  that  seemed 
maternal. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  153 

"  Alice,"  she  said,  "  the  Huron  offers  us  both  life,  nay, 
more  than  both ;  he  offers  to  restore  Duncan,  our  invalu 
able  Duncan,  as  well  as  you,  to  our  friends — to  our  fa 
ther — to  our  heart-stricken,  childless  father,  if  I  will  bow 
down  this  rebellious,  stubborn  pride  of  mine,  and 
consent — 

Her  voice  became  choked,  and  clasping  her  hands,  she 
looked  upward,  as  if  seeking,  in  her  agony,  intelligence 
from  a  wisdom  that  was  infinite. 

"  Say  on,"  cried  Alice ;  "  to  what,  dearest  Cora  ?  Oh, 
that  the  proffer  were  made  to  me !  to  save  you,  to  cheer 
<our  aged  father,  to  restore  Duncan,  how  cheerfully  could 
I  die!" 

"  Die !  "  repeated  Cora,  with  a  calmer  and  a  firmer 
voice,  "  that  were  easy !  Perhaps  the  alternative  may 
not  be  less  so.  He  would  have  me,"  she  continued,  her 
accents  sinking  under  a  deep  consciousness  of  the  degra 
dation  of  the  proposal,  "  follow  him  to  the  wilderness ; 
go  to  the  habitations  of  the  Hurons ;  to  remain  there :  in 
short  to  become  his  wife!  Speak,  then,  Alice;  child  of 
my  affections!  sister  of  my  love!  And  you,  too,  Major 
Heyward,  aid  my  weak  reason  with  your  counsel.  Is 
life  to  be  purchased  by  such  a  sacrifice?  Will  you,  Alice, 
receive  it  at  my  hands  at  such  a  price?  And  you,  Dun 
can,  guide  me ;  control  me  between  you ;  for  I  am  wholly 
yours." 

"  Would  I !  "  echoed  the  indignant  and  astonished 
youth.  "Cora!  Cora!  you  jest  with  our  misery!  Name 
not  the  horrid  alternative  again;  the  thought  itself  is 
worse  than  a  thousand  deaths." 

"  That  such  would  be  your  answer,  I  well  knew !  " 
exclaimed  Cora,  her  cheeks  flushing,  and  her  dark  eyes 
once  more  sparkling  with  the  lingering  emotions  of  a 


154  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

woman.  "  What  says  my  Alice?  for  her  will  I  submit 
without  another  murmur." 

Although  both  Heyward  and  Cora  listened  with  pain 
ful  suspense  and  the  deepest  attention,  no  sounds  were 
heard  in  reply.  It  appeared  as  if  the  delicate  and  sensi 
tive  form  of  Alice  would  shrink  into  itself,  as  she  lis 
tened  to  this  proposal.  Her  arms  had  fallen  lengthwise 
before  her,  the  fingers  moving  in  slight  convulsions ;  her 
head  dropped  upon  her  bosom,  and  her  whole  person 
seemed  suspended  against  the  tree,  looking  like  some 
beautiful  emblem  of  the  wounded  delicacy  of  her  sex, 
devoid  of  animation,  and  yet  keenly  conscious.  In  a 
few  moments,  however,  her  head  began  to  move  slowly, 
in  a  sign  of  deep,  unconquerable  disapprobation. 

"  No,  no,  no ;  better  that  we  die  as  we  have  lived, 
together !  " 

'''  Then  die !  "  shouted  Magua,  hurling  his  tomahawk 
with  violence  at  the  unresisting  speaker,  and  gnashing 
his  teeth  with  a  rage  that  could  no  longer  be  bridled,  at 
this  sudden  exhibition  of  firmness  in  the  one  he  believed 
the  weakest  of  the  party.  The  ax  cleaved  the  air  in 
front  of  Heyward,  and  cutting  some  of  the  flowing  ring 
lets  of  Alice,  quivered  in  the  tree  above  her  head.  The 
sight  maddened  Duncan  to  desperation.  Collecting  all 
his  energies  in  one  effort,  he  snapped  the  twigs  which 
bound  him  and  rushed  upon  another  savage,  who  was 
preparing  with  loud  yells,  and  a  more  deliberate  aim,  to 
repeat  the  blow.  They  encountered,  grappled,  and  fell 
to  the  earth  together.  The  naked  body  of  his  an 
tagonist  afforded  Heyward  no  means  of  holding  his 
adversary,  who  glided  from  his  grasp,  and  rose  again 
with  one  knee  on  his  chest,  pressing  him  down  with  the 
weight  of  a  giant.  Duncan  already  saw  the  knife  gleam- 


'  Then  die!  "  shouted  Magua,  hurling  his  tomahawk  with 
violence  at  the  unresisting  speaker." — -Page  154, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  155 

ing  in  the  air,  when  a  whistling  sound  swept  past  him, 
and  was  rather  accompanied,  than  followed,  by  the  sharp 
crack  of  a  rifle.  He  felt  his  breast  relieved  from  the  load 
it  had  endured;  he  saw  the  savage  expression  of  his 
adversary's  countenance  change  to  a  look  of  vacant  wild- 
ness,  when  the  Indian  fell  dead  on  the  faded  leaves  by 
his  side. 


CHAPTER 
XII. 


"  Clo. — I  am  gone,  sir, 
And  anon,  sir, 
I'll  be  with  you  again." 

Twelfth  Night, 

HE  Hurons  stood  aghast  at  this  sudden  visitation 
_L  of  death  on  one  of  their  band.  But,  as  they  re 
garded  the  fatal  accuracy  of  an  aim  which  had  dared  to 
immolate  an  enemy  at  so  much  hazard  to  a  friend,  the 
name  of  "  La  Longue  Carabine  "  burst  simultaneously 
from  every  lip,  and  was  succeeded  by  a  wild  and  a  sort 
of  plaintive  howl.  The  cry  was  answered  by  a  loud  shout 
from  a  little  thicket,  where  the  incautious  party  had  piled 
their  arms ;  and  at  the  next  moment,  Hawkeye,  too 
eager  to  load  the  rifle  he  had  regained,  was  seen  advanc 
ing  upon  them,  brandishing  the  clubbed  weapon,  and  cut 
ting  the  air  with  wide  and  powerful  sweeps.  Bold  and 
rapid  as  was  the  progress  of  the  scout,  it  was  exceeded 
by  that  of  a  light  and  vigorous  form  which,  bounding 
past  him,  leaped,  with  incredible  activity  and  daring,  into 
the  very  center  of  the  Hurons,  where  it  stood,  whirling 
a  tomahawk,  and  flourishing  a  glittering  knife,  with  fear 
ful  menaces,  in  front  of  Cora.  Quicker  than  the  thoughts 

156 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  157 

could  follow  these  unexpected  and  audacious  movements, 
an  image,  armed  in  the  emblematic  panoply  of  death, 
glided  before  their  eyes,  and  assumed  a  threatening  atti 
tude  at  the  other's  side.  The  savage  tormentors  recoiled 
before  these  warlike  intruders,  and  uttered  as  they  ap 
peared  in  such  quick  succession,  the  often  repeated  and 
peculiar  exclamation  of  surprise,  followed  by  the  well 
known  and  dreaded  appellations  of— 

"  Le  Cerf  Agile  !    Le  Gros  Serpent !  " 

But  the  wary  and  vigilant  leader  of  the  Hurons  was 
not  so  easily  disconcerted.  Casting  his  keen  eyes  around 
the  little  plain,  he  comprehended  the  nature  of  the  as 
sault  at  a  glance,  and  encouraging  his  followers  by  his 
voice  as  well  as  by  his  example,  he  unsheathed  his  long 
and  dangerous  knife,  and  rushed  with  a  loud  whoop  upon 
the  expecting  Chingachgook.  It  was  the  signal  for  a 
general  combat.  Neither  party  had  firearms,  and  the 
contest  was  to  be  decided  in  the  deadliest  manner;  hand 
to  hand,  with  weapons  of  offense,  and  none  of  defense. 

Uncas  answered  the  whoop,  and  leaping  on  an  enemy, 
with  a  single,  well  directed  blow  of  his  tomahawk,  cleft 
him  to  the  brain.  Heyward  tore  the  weapon  of  Magua 
from  the  sapling,  and  rushed  eagerly  towards  the  fray. 
As  the  combatants  were  now  equal  in  number,  each 
singled  an  opponent  from  the  adverse  band.  The  rush 
and  blows  passed  with  the  fury  of  a  whirlwind,  and  the 
swiftness  of  lightning.  Hawkeye  soon  got  another  enemy 
within  reach  of  his  arm,  and  with  one  sweep  of  his 
formidable  weapon  he  beat  down  the  slight  and  in 
artificial  defenses  of  his  antagonist,  crushing  him  to  the 
earth  with  the  blow.  Heyward  ventured  to  hurl  the 
tomahawk  he  had  seized,  too  ardent  to  await  the  moment 
of  closing.  It  struck  the  Indian  he  had  selected  on  the 


158  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

forehead,  and  checked  for  an  instant  his  onward  rush. 
Encouraged  by  this  slight  advantage,  the  impetuous 
young  man  continued  his  onset,  and  sprang  upon  his 
enemy  with  naked  hands.  A  single  instant  was  enough 
to  assure  him  of  the  rashness  of  the  measure,  for  he 
immediately  found  himself  fully  engaged,  with  all  his 
activity  and  courage,  in  endeavoring  to  ward  the  des 
perate  thrusts  made  with  the  knife  of  the  Huron.  Un 
able  longer  to  foil  an  enemy  so  alert  and  vigilant,  he 
threw  his  arms  about  him,  and  succeeded  in  pinning  the 
limbs  of  the  other  to  his  side,  with  an  iron  grasp,  but 
one  that  was  far  too  exhausting  to  himself  to  continue 
long.  In  this  extremity  he  heard  a  voice  near  him, 
shouting — 

"  Extarminate  the  varlets !  no  quarter  to  an  accursed 
Mingo !  " 

At  the  next  moment,  the  breech  of  Hawkeye's  rifle  fell 
on  the  naked  head  of  his  adversary,  whose  muscles  ap 
peared  to  wither  under  the  shock,  as  he  sank  from  the 
arms  of  Duncan,  flexible  and  motionless. 

When  Uncas  had  brained  his  first  antagonist,  he 
turned,  like  a  hungry  lion,  to  seek  another.  The  fifth  and 
only  Huron  disengaged  at  the  first  onset  had  paused  a 
moment,  and  then  seeing  that  all  around  him  were  em 
ployed  in  the  deadly  strife,  he  sought,  with  hellish  venge 
ance,  to  complete  the  baffled  work  of  revenge.  Raising 
.a  shout  of  triumph,  he  sprang  towards  the  defense 
less  Cora,  sending  his  keen  ax,  as  the  dreadful  precursor 
of  his  approach.  The  tomahawk  grazed  her  shoulder, 
and  cutting  the  withes  which  bound  her  to  the  tree,  left 
the  maiden  at  liberty  to  fly.  She^eluded  the  grasp  of  the 
savage,  and  reckless  of  her  own  safety,  threw  herself  on 
the  bosom  of  Alice,  striving,  with  convulsed  and  ill- 


j 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  159 

directed  fingers,  to  tear  asunder  the  twigs  which  confined 
the  person  of  her  sister.  Any  other  than  a  monster  would 
have  relented  at  such  an  act  of  generous  devotion  to 
the  best  and  purest  affection ;  but  the  breast  of  the  Huron 
was  a  stranger  to  sympathy.  Seizing  Cora  by  the  rich 
tresses  which  fell  in  confusion  about  her  form,  he  tore 
her  from  her  frantic  hold^  and  bowed  her  down  with 
brutal  violence  to  her  knees.  The  savage  drew  the  flow 
ing  curls  through  his  hand,  and  raising  them  on  high 
with  an  outstretched  arm,  he  passed  the  knife  around 
the  exquisitely  molded  head  of  his  victim,  with  a  taunt 
ing  and  exulting  laugh.  But  he  purchased  this  moment 
of  fierce  gratification  with  the  loss  of  the  fatal  oppor 
tunity.  It  was  just  then  the  sight  caught  the  eye  of 
Uncas.  Bounding  from  his  footsteps  he  appeared  for 
an  instant  darting  through  the  air,  and  descending  in  a 
ball  he  fell  on  the  chest  of  his  enemy,  driving  him  many 
yards  from  the  spot,  headlong  and  prostrate.  The  vio 
lence  of  the  exertion  cast  the  young  Mohican  at  his  side. 
They  arose  together,  fought,  and  bled,  each  in  his  turn. 
But  the  conflict  was  soon  decided ;  the  tomahawk  of  Hey- 
ward  and  the  rifle  of  Hawkeye  descended  on  the  skull 
of  the  Huron,  at  the  same  moment  that  the  knife  of 
Uncas  reached  his  heart. 

The  battle  was  now  entirely  terminated,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  the  protracted  struggle  between  Le  Renard 
Subtil  and  Le  Gros  Serpent.  Well  did  these  barbarou? 
warriors  prove  that  they  deserved  those  significant  names 
which  had  been  bestowed  for  deeds  in  former  wars. 
When  they  engaged,  some  little  time  was  lost  in  eluding 
the  quick  and  vigorous  thrusts  which  had  been  aimed  at 
their  lives.  Suddenly  darting  on  each  other,  they  closed, 
and  came  to  the  earth,  twisted  together  like  twining  ser- 


160  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

pents,  in  pliant  and  subtle  folds.  At  the  moment  when 
the  victors  found  themselves  unoccupied,  the  spot  where 
these  experienced  and  desperate  combatants  lay,  could 
only  be  distinguished  by  a  cloud  of  dust  and  leaves  which 
moved  from  the  center  of  the  little  plain  towards  its 
boundary,  as  if  raised  by  the  passage  of  a  whirlwind. 
Urged  by  the  different  motives  of  filial  affection,  friend 
ship,  and  gratitude,  Heyward  and  his  companions  rushed 
with  one  accord  to  the  place,  encircling  the  little  canopy  of 
dust  which  hung  above  the  warriors.  In  vain  did  Uncas 
dart  around  the ,  cloud,  with  a  wish  to  strike  his  knife 
into  the  heart  of  his  father's  foe;  the  threatening  rifle 
of  Hawkeye  was  raised  and  suspended  in  vain,  while 
Duncan  endeavored  to  seize  the  limbs  of  the  Huron  with 
hands  that  appeared  to  have  lost  their  power.  Covered, 
as  they  were,  with  dust  and  blood,  the  swift*  evolutions 
of  the  combatants  seemed  to  incorporate  their  bodies  into 
one.  The  deathlike-looking  figure  of  the  Mohican,  and 
the  dark  form  of  the  Huron,  gleamed  before  their  eyes 
in  such  quick  and  confused  succession,  that  the  friends 
of  the  former  knew  not  where  nor  when  to  plan  the 
succoring  blow.  It  is  true  the're  were  short  and  fleeting 
moments,  when  the  fiery  eyes  of  Magua  were  seen  glit 
tering,  like  the  fabled  organs  of  the  basilisk,  through  the 
dusty  wreath  by  which  he  was  enveloped,  and  he  read 
by  those  short  and  deadly  glances  the  fate  of  the  combat 
in  the  presence  of  his  enemies ;  ere,  however,  any  hostile 
hand  could  descend  on  his  devoted  head,  its  place  was 
filled  by  the  scowling  visage  of  Chingachgook.  In  this 
manner  the  scene  of  the  combat  was  removed  from  the 
center  of  the  little  plain  to  its  verge.  The  Mohican  now 
found  an  opportunity  to  make  a  powerful  thrust  with 
his  knife.  Magua  suddenly  relinquished  his  grasp,  and 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  161 

fell  backward  without  motion,  and  seemingly  without 
life.  His  adversary  leaped  on  his  feet,  making  the  arches 
of  the  forest  ring  with  the  sounds  of  triumph. 

"  Well  done  for  the  Delawares !  victory  to  the  Mo 
hican  !  "  cried  Hawkeye,  once  more  elevating  the  butt 
of  the  long  and  fatal  rifle ;  "  a  finishing  blow  from  a  man 
without  a  cross  will  never  tell  against  his  honor,  nor 
rob  him  of  hisr  right  to  the  scalp." 

But,  at  the  very  moment  when  the  dangerous  weapon 
was  in  the  act  of  descending,  the  subtle  Huron  rolled 
swiftly  from  beneath  the  danger,  over  the  edge  of  the 
precipice,  and  falling  on  his  feet,  was  seen  leaping,  with 
a  single  bound,  into  the  center  of  a  thicket  of  low  bushes, 
which  clung  along  its  sides.  The  Delawares,  who  had 
believed  their  enemy  dead,  uttered  their  exclamation  of 
surprise,  and  were  following  with  speed  and  clamor,  like 
hounds  in  open  view  of  the  deer,  when  a  shrill  and  pecu 
liar  cry  from  the  scout  instantly  changed  their  purpose, 
and  recalled  them  to  the  summit  of  the  hill. 

"  'Twas  like  Himself,"  cried  the  inveterate  forester, 
whose  prejudices  contributed  so  largely  to  veil  his  nat 
ural  sense  of  justice  in  all  matters  which  concerned  the 
Mingos ;  *'  a  lying  and  deceitful  varlet  as  he  is.  An  honest 
Delaware  now,  being  fairly  vanquished,  would  have  lain 
still,  and  been  knocked  on  the  head,  but  these  knavish 
Maquas  cling  to  life  like  so  many  cats-o'-the-mountain. 
Let  him  go — let  him  go;  'tis  but  one  man,  and  he  with 
out  rifle  or  bow,  many  a  long  mile  from  his  French  com- 
merades;  and,  like  a  rattler  that  has  lost  his  fangs,  he 
can  do  no  further  mischief,  until  such  time  as  he,  and 
we  too,  may  leave  the  prints  of  our  moccasins  over  a 
long  reach  of  sandy  plain.  See,  Uncas,"  he  added,  in 
Delaware,  "  your  father  is  flaying  the  scalps  already.  It 


1 62  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

may  be  well  to  go  round  and  feel  the  vagabonds  that 
are  left,  or  we  may  have  another  of  them  loping  through 
the  woods,  and  screeching  like  a  jay  that  has  been 
winged." 

So  saying,  the  honest,  but  implacable  scout  made  the 
circuit  of  the  dead,  into  whose  senseless  bosoms  he  thrust 
his  long  knife,  with  as  much  coolness  as  though  they 
had  been  so  many  brute  carcasses.  He  had,  however, 
been  anticipated  by  the  elder  Mohican,  who  had  already 
torn  the  emblems  of  victory  from  the  unresisting  heads 
of  the  slain. 

But  Uncas,  denying  his  habits,  we  had  almost  said  his 
nature,  flew  with  inslinctive^cjelicacy,  accompanied  by 
Heyward,  to  the  assistance  of  tKe  females,  and  quickly 
releasing  Alice,  placed  her  in  the  arms  of  Cora.  We 
shall  not  attempt  to  Describe  the  gratitude  to  the  Almighty 
Disposer  of  events  which  glowed  in  the  bosoms  of  the 
sisters,  who  were  thus  unexpectedly  restored  to  life  and 
to  each  other.  Their  thanksgivings  were  deep  and  silent  ; 
the  offerings  of  their  gentle  spirits,  burning  brightest 
and  purest  on  the  secret  altars  of  their  hearts;  and  their 
renovated  and  more  earthly  feelings  exhibiting  themselves 
in  long  and  fervent,  though  speechless  caresses.  As  Alice 
rose  from  her  knees,  where  she  had  sunk  by  the  side 
of  Cora,  she  threw  herself  on  the  bosom  of  the  latter,  and 
sobbed  aloud  the  name  of  their  aged  father,  while  her 
soft,  dove-like  eyes  sparkled  with  the  rays  of  hope. 

"  We  are  saved !  we  are  saved !  "  she  murmured ;  "  to 
return  to  the  arms  of  our  dear,  dear  father,  and  his 
heart  will  not  be  broken  with  grief.  And  you  too,  Cora, 
my  sister;  my  more  than  sister,  my  mother;  you  too  are 
spared.  And  Duncan,"  she  added,  looking  round  upon 
the  youth  with  a  smile  of  ineffable  innocence,  "  even  our 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  163 

own  brave  and  noble  Duncan  has  escaped  without  a 
hurt." 

To  these  ardent  and  nearly  incoherent  words  Cora 
made  no  other  answer  than  by  straining  the  youthful 
speaker  to  her  heart,  as  she  bent  over  her,  in  melting 
tenderness.  The  manhood  of  Heyward  felt  no  shame 
in  dropping  tears  over  this  spectacle  of  affectionate  rap 
ture  ;  and  Uncas  stood,  fresh  and  blood-stained  from 
the  combat,  a  calm,  and,  apparently,  an  unmoved 
looker-on,  it  is  true,  but  with  eyes  that  had  already  lost 
their  fierceness,  and  were  beaming  with  a  sympathy  that 
elevated  him  far  above  the  intelligence,  and  advanced 
him  probably  centuries  before  the  .practices  of  his 
nation. 

During  this  display  of  emotions  so  natural  in  their 
situation,  Hawkeye,  whose  vigilant  distrust  had  satisfied 
itself  that  the  Hurons,  who  disfigured  the  heavenly  scene, 
no  longer  possessed  the  power  to  interrupt  its  harmony, 
approached  David,  and  liberated  him  from  the  bonds  he 
had,  until  that  moment,  endured  with  the  most  exemplary 
patience. 

"  There,"  exclaimed  the  scout,  casting  the  last  withe 
behind  him,  "  you  are  once  more  master  of  your  own 
limbs,  though  you  seem  not  to  use  them  with  greater 
judgment  than  that  in  which  they  were  first  fashioned. 
If  advice  from  one  who  is  not  older  than  yourself,  but 
who,  having  lived  most  of  his  time  in  the  wilderness,  may 
be  said  to  have  experienced  beyond  his  years,  will  give 
no  offense,  you  are  welcome  to  my  thoughts;  and  these 
are,  to  part  with  the  little  tooting  instrument  in  your 
jacket  to  the  first  fool  you  meet  with,  and  buy  some 
useful  we'pon  with  the  money,  if  it  be  only  the  barrel 
of  a  horseman's  pistol.  By  industry  and  care,  you  might 


164  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

thus  come  to  some  prefarment;  for  by  this  time,  I  should 
think,  your  eyes  would  plainly  tell  you  that  a  carrion  crow 
is  a  better  bird  than  a  mocking  thresher.  The  one  will, 
at  least,  remove  foul  sights  from  before  the  face  of  man, 
while  the  other  is  only  good  to  brew  disturbances 
in  the  woods,  by  cheating  the  ears  of  all  that  hear 
them/' 

"  Arms  and  the  clarion  for  the  battle,  but  the  song 
of  thanksgiving  to  the  victory !  "  answered  the  liberated 
David.  "  Friend,"  he  added,  thrusting  forth  his  lean, 
delicate  hand  towards  Hawkeye,  in  kindness,  while  his 
eyes  twinkled  and  grew  moist,  "  I  thank  thee  that  the 
hairs  of  my  head  still  grow  where  they  were  first  rooted 
by  Providence ;  for,  though  those  of  other  men  may  be 
more  glossy  and  curling,  I  have  ever  found  mine  own 
well  suited  to  the  brain  they  shelter.  That  I  did  not  join 
myself  to  the  battle,  was  less  owing  to  disinclination, 
than  to  the  bonds  of  the  heathen.  Valiant  and  skilful 
hast  thou  proved  thyself  in  the  conflict,  and  I  hereby 
thank  thee,  before  proceeding  to  discharge  other  and 
more  important  duties,  because  thou  hast  proved  thyself 
well  worthy  of  a  Christian's  praise." 

"  The  thing  is  but  a  trifle,  and  what  you  may  often 
see,  if  you  tarry  long  among  us,"  returned  the  scout, 
a  good  deal  softened  towards  the  man  of  song,  by  this 
unequivocal  expression  of  gratitude.  "  I  have  got  back 
my  old  companion,  '  Killdeer,'  "  he  added,  striking  his 
hand  on  the  breech  of  his  rifle;  "and  that  in  itself  is  a 
victory.  These  Iroquois  are  cunning,  but  they  outwitted 
themselves  when  they  placed  their  firearms  out  of  reach ; 
and  had  Uncas  or  his  father  been  gifted  with  only  their 
common  Indian  patience,  we  should  have  come  in  upon 
the  knaves  with  three  bullets  instead  of  one,  and  that 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  165 

would  have  made  a  finish  of  the  whole  pack;  yon  loping 
varlet,  as  well  as  his  commerades.  But  'twas  all  fore- 
ordered,  and  for  the  best." 

"  Thou  sayest  well/'  returned  David,  "  and  hast  caught 
the  true  spirit  of  Christianity.  He  that  is  to  be  saved 
will  be  saved,  and  he  that  is  predestined  to  be  damned 
will  be  damned.  This  is  the  doctrine  of  truth,  and  most 
consoling  and  refreshing  it  is  to  the  true  believer." 

The  scout,  who  by  this  time  was  seated,  examining 
into  the  state  of  his  rifle  with  a  species  of  parental  as 
siduity,  now  looked  up  at  the  other  in  a  displeasure  that 
he  did  not  affect  to  conceal,  roughly  interrupting  further 
speech. 

"  Doctrine  or  no  doctrine,"  said  the  sturdy  woodsman, 
"  'tis  the  belief  of  knaves,  and  the  curse  of  an  honest 
man.  I  can  credit  that  yonder  Huron  was  to  fall  by 
my  hand,  for  with  my  own  eyes  I  have  seen  it ;  but  noth 
ing  short  of  being  a  witness,  will  cause  me  to  think  he 
has  met  with  any  reward,  or  that  Chingachgook,  there, 
will  be  condemned  at  the  final  day." 

"  You  have  no  warranty  for  such  an  audacious  doc 
trine,  nor  any  covenant  to  support  it,"  cried  David,  who 
was  deeply  tinctured  with  the  subtle  distinctions  which, 
in  his  time,  and  more  especially  in  his  province,  had  been 
drawn  around  the  beautiful  simplicity  of  revelation,  by 
endeavoring  to  penetrate  the  awful  mystery  of  the  divine 
nature,  supplying  faith  by  self-sufficiency,  and  by  conse 
quence,  involving  those  who  reasoned  from  such  human 
dogmas  in  absurdities  and  doubt ;  "  your  temple  is  reared 
on  the  sands,  and  the  first  tempest  will  wash  away  its 
foundation.  I  demand  your  authorities  for  such  an  un 
charitable  assertion.  (Like  other  advocates  of  a  system, 
David  was  not  always  accurate  in  his  use  of  terms.) 


1 66  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Name  chapter  and  verse;  in  which  of  the  holy  books  do 
you  find  language  to  support  you  ?  " 

"  Book !  "  repeated  Hawkeye,  with  singular  and  ill- 
concealed  disdain ;  "  do  you  take  me  for  a  whimpering 
boy  at  the  apron-string  of  one  of  your  old  gals;  and 
this  good  rifle  on  my  knee  for  the  feather  of  a  goose's 
wing,  my  ox's  horn  for  a  bottle  of  ink,  and  my  leathern 
pouch  for  a  cross-barred  handkerchief  to  carry  my  din 
ner?  Book!  what  have  such  as  I,  who  am  a  warrior  of 
the  wilderness,  though  a  man  without  a  cross,  to  do 
with  books?  I  never  read  but  in  one,  and  the  words 
that  are  written  there  are  too  simple  and  too  plain  to 
need  much  schooling;  though  I  may  boast  that  of  forty' 
long  and  hard-working  years." 

"  What  call  you  the  volume  ? "  said  David,  miscon 
ceiving  the  other's  meaning. 

"  Tis  open  before  your  eyes,"  returned  the  scout ; 
"  and  he  who  owns  it  is  not  a  niggard  of  its  use.  I  have 
heard  it  said  that  there  are  men  who  read  in  books  to 
convince  themselves  there  is  a  God.  I  know  not  but  man 
may  so  deform  his  works  in  the  settlement,  as  to  leave 
that  which  is  so  clear  in  the  wilderness  a  matter  of  doubt 
among  traders  and  priests.  If  any  such  there  be,  and 
he  will  follow  me  from  sun  to  sun,  through  the  windings 
of  the  forest,  he  shall  see  enough  to  teach  him  that  he  is 
a  fool,  and  that  the  greatest  of  his  folly  lies  in  striving  to 
rise  to  the  level  of  One  he  can  never  equal,  be  it  in  good 
ness,  or  be  it  in  power." 

The  instant  David  discovered  that  he  battled  with  a 
disputant  who  imbibed  his  faith  from  the  lights  of  na 
ture,  eschewing  all  subtleties  of  doctrine,  he  willingly 
abandoned  a  controversy  from  which  he  believed  neither 
profit  nor  credit  was  to  be  derived.  While  the  scout  was 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  167 

speaking,  he  had  also  seated  himself,  and  producing  the 
ready  little  volume  and  the  iron-rimmed  spectacles,  he 
prepared  to  discharge  a  duty,  which  nothing  but  the  un 
expected  assault  he  had  received  in  his  orthodoxy  could 
have  so  long  suspended.  He  was,  in  truth,  a  minstrel 
of  the  western  continent — of  a  much  later  day,  cer 
tainly,  than  those  gifted  bards,  who  Tormerly  sang  the 
profane  renown  of  baron  and  prince,  but  after  the  spirit 
of  his  own  age  and  country;  and  he  was  now  prepared 
to  exercise  the  cunning  of  his  craft,  in  celebration  of, 
or  rather  in  thanksgiving  for,  the  recent  victory.  He 
waited  patiently  for  Hawkeye  to  cease,  then  lifting  his 
eyes,  together  with  his  voice,  he  said,  aloud, — 

"  I  invite  you,  friends,  to  join  in  praise  for  this  signal 
deliverance  from  the  hands  of  barbarians  and  infidels, 
to  the  comfortable  and  solemn  tones  of  the  tune  called 
*  Northampton.' ' 

He  next  named  the  page  and  verse  where  the  rhymes 
selected  were  to  be  found,  and  applied  the  pitch-pipe  to 
his  lips,  with  the  decent  gravity  that  he  had  been  wont 
to  use  in  the  temple.  This  time  he  was,  however,  with 
out  any  accompaniment,  for  the  sisters  were  just  then 
pouring  out  those  tender  effusions  of  affection  which 
have  been  already  alluded  to.  Nothing  deterred  by  the 
smallness  of  his  audience,  which,  in  truth,  consisted  only 
of  the  discontented  scout,  he  raised  his  voice,  commenc 
ing  and  ending  the  sacred  song  without  accident  or 
interruption  of  any  kind. 

Hawkeye  listened,  while  he  coolly  adjusted  his  flint 
and  reloaded  his  rifle;  but  the  sounds,  wanting  the  ex 
traneous  assistance  of  scene  and  sympathy,  failed  to 
awaken  his  slumbering  emotions.  Never  minstrel,  or  by 
whatever  more  suitable  name  David  should  be  known, 


1 68  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

drew  upon  his  talents  in  the  presence  of  more  insensible 
auditors;  though  considering  the  singleness  and  sin 
cerity  of  his  motive,  it  is  probable  that  no  bard  of  pro 
fane  song  ever  uttered  notes  that  ascended  so  near  to 
that  throne  where  all  homage  and  praise  is  due.  The 
scout  shook  his  head,  and  muttering  some  unintelligible 
words,  among  which  "  throat  "  and  "  Iroquois  "  were 
alone  audible,  he  walked  away,  to  collect,  and  to  ex 
amine  into,  the  state  of  the  captured  arsenal  of  the 
Hurons.  In  this  office  he  was  now  joined  by  Chingach- 
gook,  who  found  his  own,  as  well  as  the  rifle  of  his  son, 
among  the  arms.  Even  Heyward  and  David  were  fur 
nished  with  weapons;  nor  was  ammunition  wanting  to 
render  them  all  effectual. 

When  the  foresters  had  made  their  selection,  and  dis 
tributed  their  prizes,  the  scout  announced  that  the  hour 
had  arrived  when  it  was  necessary  to  move.  By  this 
time  the  song  of  Gamut  had  ceased,  and  the  sisters  had 
learned  to  still  the  exhibition  of  their  emotions.  Aided 
by  Duncan  and  the  younger  Mohican,  the  two  latter  de 
scended  the  precipitous  sides  of  that  hill  which  they  had 
so  lately  ascended  under  so  very  different  auspices,  and 
whose  summit  had  so  nearly  proved  the  scene  of  their 
massacre.  At  the  foot,  they  found  the  Narragansetts 
browsing  the  herbage  of  the  bushes ;  and  having  mounted, 
they  followed  the  movements  of  a  guide,  who,  in  the 
most  deadly  straits,  had  so  often  proved  himself  their 
friend.  The  journey  was,  however,  short.  Hawkeye, 
leaving  the  blind  path  that  the  Hurons  had  followed, 
turned  short  to  his  right,  and  entering  the  thicket,  he 
crossed  a  babbling  brook,  and  halted  in  a  narrow  dell, 
under  the  shade  of  a  few  water  elms.  Their  distance 
from  the  base  of  the  fatal  hill  was  but  a  few  rods,  and 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  169 

the  steeds  had  been  serviceable  only  in  crossing  the  shal 
low  stream. 

The  scout  and  the  Indians  appeared  to  be  familiar  with 
the  sequestered  place  where  they  now  were ;  for,  lean-x 
ing  their  rifles  against  the  trees,  they  commenced  throw 
ing  aside  the  dried  leaves,  and  opening  the  blue  clay, 
out  of  which  a  clear  and  sparkling  spring  of  bright, 
glancing  water  quickly  bubbled.  The  white  man  then 
looked  about  him,  as  though  seeking  for  some  object, 
which  was  not  to  be  found  as  readily  as  he  expected : — 

"  Them  careless  imps,  the  Mohawks,  with  their 
Tuscarora  and  Onondaga  brethren,  have, been  here  slak 
ing  their  thirst,"  he  muttered,  "  and  the  vagabonds  have 
thrown  away  the  gourd!  This  is  the  way  with  benefits, 
when  they  are  bestowed  on  such  disremembering  hounds ! 
Here  has  the  Lord  laid  his  hand,  in  the  midst  of  the 
howling  wilderness,  for  their  good,  and  raised  a  fountain 
of  water  from  the  bowels  of  the  'arth,  that  might  laugh 
at  the  richest  shop  of  apothecary's  ware  in  all  the  colo 
nies  ;  and  see !  the  knaves  have  trodden  in  the  clay,  and 
deformed  the  cleanliness  of  the  place,  as  though  they 
were  brute  beasts,  instead  of  human  men." 

Uncas  silently  extended  towards  him  the  desired 
gourd,  which  the  spleen  of  Hawkeye  had  hitherto  pre 
vented  him  from  observing,  on  a  branch  of  an  elm.  Fill 
ing  it  with  water,  he  retired  a  short  distance,  to  a  place 
where  the  ground  was  more  firm  and  dry ;  here  he  coolly 
seated  himself,  and  after  taking  a  long,  and,  apparently, 
a  grateful  draught,  he  commenced  a  very  strict  examina 
tion  of  the  fragments  of  food  left  by  the  Hurons,  which 
had  hung  in  a  wallet  on  his  arm. 

"  Thank  you,  lad !  "  he  continued,  returning  the  empty 
gourd  to  Uncas ;  "  now  we  will  see  how  these  rampaging 


170  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Hurons  lived,  when  outlying  in  ambushments.  Look  at 
this!  The  varlets  know  the  better  pieces  of  the  deer; 
and  one  would  think  they  might  carve  and  roast  a  sad 
dle,  equal  to  the  best  cook  in  the  land!  But  everything 
is  raw,  for  the  Iroquois  are  thorough  savages.  Uncas, 
take  my  steel,  and  kindle  a  fire;  a  mouthful  of  a  tender 
broil  will  give  natur'  a  helping  hand,  after  so  long  a 
trail." 

Heyward,  perceiving  that  their  guides  now  set  about 
their  repast  in  sober  earnest,  assisted  the  ladies  to  alight, 
and  placed  himself  at  their  side,  not  unwilling  to  enjoy 
a  few  moments  of  grateful  rest,  after  the  bloody  scene 
he  had  just  gone  through.  While  the  culinary  process 
was  in  hand,  curiosity  induced  him  to  inquire  into  the 
circumstances  which  had  led  to  their  timely  and  unex 
pected  rescue:— 

"  How  is  it  that  we  see  you  so  soon,  my  generous 
friend,"  he  asked,  "  and  without  aid  from  the  garrison 
of  Edward?" 

"  Had  we  gone  to  the  bend  in  the  river,  we  might  have 
been  in  time  to  rake  the  leaves  over  your  bodies,  but 
too  late  to  have  saved  your  scalps,"  coolly  answered  the 
scout.  "  No,  no ;  instead  of  throwing  away  strength  and 
opportunity  by  crossing  to  the  fort,  we  lay  by,  under  the 
bank  of  the  Hudson,  waiting  to  watch  the  movements  of 
the  Hurons." 

"You  were,  then,  witnesses  of  all  that  passed?" 

"  Not  of  all ;  for  Indian  sight  is  too  keen  to  be  easily 
cheated,  and  we  kept  close.  A  difficult  matter  it  was, 
too,  to  keep  this  Mohican  boy  snug  in  the  ambushment. 
Ah!  Uncas,  Uncas,  your  behavior  was  more  like  that  of 
a  curious  woman  than  of  a  warrior  on  his  scent." 

Uncas  permitted  his  eyes  to  turn  for  an  instant  on  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  171 

sturdy  countenance  of  the  speaker,  but  he  neither  spoke 
nor  gave  any  indication  of  repentance.  On  the  contrary, 
Heyward  thought  the  manner  of  the  young  Mohican  was 
disdainful,  if  not  a  little  fierce,  and  that  he  suppressed 
passions  that  were  ready  to  explode,  as  much  in  compli 
ment  to  the  listeners,  as  from  the  deference  he  usually 
paid  to  his  white  associate. 

"  You  saw  our  capture  ?  "  Heyward  next  demanded. 

"  We  heard  it,"  was  the  significant  answer.  "  An  In 
dian  yell  is  plain  language  to  men  who  have  passed  their 
days  in  the  woods.  But  when  you  landed,  we  were 
driven  to  crawl,  like  sarpents,  beneath  the  leaves;  and 
then  we  lost  sight  of  you  entirely,  until  we  placed  eyes 
on  you  again,  trussed  to  the  trees,  and  ready  bound  for 
an  Indian  massacre." 

"  Our  rescue  was  the  deed  of  Providence.  It  was 
nearly  a  miracle  that  you  did  not  mistake  the  path,  for 
the  Hurons  divided,,  and  each  band  had  its  horses." 

"  Aye !  there  we  were  thrown  off  the  scent,  and  might, 
indeed,  have  lost  the  trail,  had  it  not  been  for  Uncas; 
we  took  the  path,  however,  that  led  into  the  wilderness; 
for  we  judged,  and  judged  rightly,  that  the  savages 
would  hold  that  course  with  their  prisoners.  But  when 
we  had  followed  it  for  many  miles,  without  finding  a 
single  twig  broken,  as  I  had  advised,  my  mind  misgave 
me;  especially  as  all  the  footsteps  had  the  prints  of 
moccasins." 

"  Our  captors  had  the  precaution  to  see  us  shod  like 
themselves,"  said  Duncan,  raising  a  foot,  and  exhibiting 
the  buckskin  he  wore. 

"Aye,  'twas  judgmatical,  and  like  themselves;  though 
we  were  too  expart  to  be  thrown  from  a  trail  by  so 
common  an  invention." 


172  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  To  what,  then,  are  we  indebted  for  our  safety  ?  " 

"  To  what,  as  a  white  man  who  has  no  taint  of  In 
dian  blood,  I  should  be  ashamed  to  own;  to  the  judgment 
of  the  young  Mohican,  in  matters  which  I  should  know 
better  than  he,  but  which  I  can  now  hardly  believe  to 
be  true,  though  my  own  eyes  tell  me  it  is  so." 

"  Tis  extraordinary!  will  you  not  name  the  reason?" 

"  Uncas  was  bold  enough  to  say,  that  the  beasts  rid 
den  by  the  gentle  ones,"  continued  Hawkeye,  glancing  his 
eyes,  not  without  curious  interest,  on  the  fillies  of  the 
ladies,  "  planted  the  legs  of  one  side  on  the  ground  at 
the  same  time,  which  is  contrary  to  the  movements  of  all 
trotting  four-footed  animals  of  my  knowledge,  except 
the  bear.  And  yet  here  are  horses  that  always  journey 
in  this  manner,  as  my  own  eyes  have  seen,  and  as  their 
trail  has  shown  for  twenty  long  miles." 

'  'Tis  the  merit  of  the  animal !  They  come  from  the 
shores  of  Narragansett  Bay,  in  the  small  province  of 
Providence  Plantations,  and  are  celebrated  for  their  har 
dihood,  and  the  ease  of  this  peculiar  movement;  though 
other  horses  are  not  unfrequently  trained  to  the  same." 

"  It  may  be — it  may  be,"  said  Hawkeye,  who  had  lis 
tened  with  singular  attention  to  this  explanation; 
"  though  I  am  a  man  who  has  the  full  blood  of  the 
whites,  my  judgment  in  deer  and  beaver  is  greater  than 
in  beasts  of  burden.  Major  Effingham  has  many  noble 
chargers,  but  I  have  never  seen  one  travel  after  such 
a  sideling  gait." 

"True;  for  he  would  value  the  animals  for  very  dif 
ferent  properties.  Still  is  this  a  breed  highly  esteemed, 
and  as  you  witness,  much  honored  with  the  burdens  it  is 
often  destined  to  bear." 

The  Mohicans  had  suspended  their  operations  about 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  173 

the  glimmering  fire,  to  listen;  and  when  Duncan  had 
done,  they  looked  at  each  other  significantly,  the  father 
uttering  the  never-failing  exclamation  of  surprise.  The 
scout  ruminated,  like  a  man  digesting  his  newly  acquired 
knowledge,  and  once  more  stole  a  curious  glance  at  the 
horses. 

"  I  dare  to  say  there  are  even  stranger  sights  to  be 
seen  in  the  settlements!"  he  said,  at  length;  "  natur'  is 
sadly  abused  by  man,  when  he  once  gets  the  mastery. 
But,  go  sideling  or  go  straight,  Uncas  had  seen  the  move 
ment,  and  their  trail  led  us  on  to  the  broken  bush.  The 
outer  branch,  near  the  prints  of  one  of  the  horses,  was 
bent  upward,  as  a  lady  breaks  a  flower  from  its  stem, 
but  all  the  rest  were  ragged  and  broken  down,  as  if  the 
strong  hand  of  a  man  had  been  tearing  them !  So  I  con 
cluded  that  the  cunning  varmints  had  seen  the  twig  bent, 
and  had  torn  the  rest,  to  make  us  believe  a  buck  had  been 
feeling  the  boughs  with  his  antlers." 

"  I  do  believe  your  sagacity  did  not  deceive  you ;  for 
some  such  thing  occurred !  " 

"  That  was  easy  to  see,"  added  the  scout,  in  no  de 
gree  conscious  of  having  exhibited  any  extraordinary 
sagacity ;  "  and  a  very  different  matter  it  was  from  a 
waddling  horse!  It  then  struck  me  the  Mingos  would 
push  for  this  spring,  for  the  knaves  well  know  the  vartue 
of  its  waters !  " 

"Is  it,  then,  so  famous?"  demanded  Heyward,  ex 
amining,  with  a  more  curious  eye,  the  secluded  dell, 
with  its  bubbling  fountain,  surrounded,  as  it  was,  by 
earth  of  a  deep  dingy  brown. 

"  Few  redskins,  who  travel  south  and  east  of  the  great 
lakes,  but  have  heard  of  its  qualities.  Will  you  taste 
for  yourself?  " 


174  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans' 

Heyward  took  the  gourd,  and  after  swallowing  a  lit 
tle  of  the  water,  threw  it  aside  with  grimaces  of  dis 
content.  The  scout  laughed  in  his  silent,  but  heartfelt 
manner,  and  shook  his  head  with  vast  satisfaction. 

"  Ah !  you  want  the  flavor  that  one  gets  by  habit ;  the 
time  was  when  I  liked  it  as  little  as  yourself ;  but  I  have 
come  to  my  taste,  and  I  now  crave  it,  as  a  deer  does 
the  licks.1  Your  high  spiced  wines  are  not  better  liked 
than  a  redskin  relishes  this  water;  especially  when  his 
natur'  is  ailing.  But  Uncas  has  made  his  fire,  and  it 
is  time  we  think  of  eating,  for  our  journey  is  long,  and  all 
before  us." 

Interrupting  the  dialogue  by  this  abrupt  transition, 
the  scout  had  instant  recourse  to  the  fragments  of  food 
which  had  escaped  the  voracity  of  the  Hurons.  A  very 
summary  process  completed  the  simple  cookery,  when 
he  and  the  Mohicans  commenced  their  humble  meal,  with 
the  silence  and  characteristic  diligence  of  men  who  ate 
in  order  to  enable  themselves  to  endure  great  and  unre 
mitting  toil. 

When  this  necessary,  and,  happily,  grateful  duty  had 
been  performed,  each  of  the  foresters  stooped  and  took  a 
long  and  parting  draught  at  that  solitary  and  silent 
spring,2  around  which  and  its  sister  fountains,  within 

1  Many  of  the  animals  of  the  American  forests  resort  to  those 
spots  where  salt  springs  are  found.     These  are  called  "  licks " 
or  "  salt  licks,"   in  the  language  of  the  country,   from  the  cir 
cumstance  that  the  quadruped  is  often  obliged  to  lick  the  earth, 
in  order  to  obtain  the  saline  particles.     These  licks  are  great 
places  of  resort  with  the  hunters,  who  waylay  their  game  near 
the  paths  that  lead  to  them. 

2  The  scene  of  the  foregoing  incidents  is  on  the  spot  where  the 
village    of    Ballston    now    stands ;    one    of    the    two    principal 
watering-places  of  America. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  175 

fifty  years,  the  wealth,  beauty,  and  talents  of  a  hemi 
sphere  were  to  assemble  in  throngs,  in  pursuit  of  health 
and  pleasure.  Then  Hawkeye  announced  his  determina 
tion  to  proceed.  The  sisters  resumed  their  saddles;  Dun 
can  and  David  grasped  their  rifles,  and  followed  on  their 
footsteps;  the  scout  leading  the  advance,  and  the  Mo 
hicans  bringing  up  the  rear.  The  whole  party  moved 
swiftly  through  the  narrow  path,  towards  the  north, 
leaving  the  healing  waters  to  mingle  unheeded  with  the 
adjacent  brook,  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead  to  fester  on 
the  neighboring  mount,  without  the  rites  of  sepulture;  a 
fate  but  too  common  to  the  warriors  of  the  woods  to 
excite  either  commiseration  or  comment. 


CHAPTER 
XIII. g  £ 


"I'll  seek  a  readier  path." 
PARNELL. 


THE  route  taken  by  Hawkeye  lay  across  those  sandy 
plains,  relieved  by  occasional  valleys  and  swells 
of  land,  which  had  been  traversed  by  their  party  on  the 
morning  of  the  same  day,  with  the  baffled  Magua  for 
their  guide.  The  sun  had  now  fallen  low  towards  the 
distant  mountains;  and  as  their  journey  lay  through  the 
interminable  forest,  the  heat  was  no  longer  oppressive. 
Their  progress,  in  consequence,  was  proportionate;  and 
long  before  the  twilight  gathered  about  them,  they  had 
made  good  many  toilsome  miles  on  their  return. 

The  hunter,  like  the  savage  whose  place  he  filled, 
seemed  to  select  among  the  blind  signs  of  their  wild 
route,  with  a  species  of  instinct,  seldom  abating  his  speed, 
and  never  pausing  to  deliberate.  A  rapid  and  oblique 
glance  at  the  moss  on  the  trees,  with  an  occasional  up 
ward  gaze  towards  the  setting  sun,  or  a  steady  but  pass 
ing  look  at  the  direction  of  the  numerous  watercourses, 
through  v/hich  he  waded,  were  sufficient  to  determine 
hifj  path,  and  removt  his  greatest  difficulties.  In  the 
g  the  forest  began  to  change  its  hues,  losing 
176 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  177 

that  lively  green  which  had  embellished  its  arches,  in  the 
graver  light  which  is  the  usual  precursor  of  the  close 
of  day. 

While  the  eyes  of  the  sisters  were  endeavoring  to 
catch  glimpses  through  the  trees,  of  the  flood  of  golden 
glory  which  formed  a  glittering  halo  around  the  sun, 
tingeing  here  and  there  with  ruby  streaks,  or  bordering 
with  narrow  edgings  of  shining  yellow,  a  mass  of  clouds 
that  lay  piled  at  no  great  distance  above  the  western  hills, 
Hawkeye  turned  suddenly,  and,  pointing  upwards  to 
wards  the  gorgeous  heavens,  he  spoke : — 

"  Yonder  is  the  signal  given  to  a  man  to  seek  his  food 
and  natural  rest,"  he  said :  "  better  and  wiser  would  it 
be,  if  he  could  understand  the  signs  of  nature,  and  take 
a  lesson  from  the  fowls  of  the  air  and  the  beasts  of 
the  fields!  Our  night,  however,  will  soon  be  over;  for, 
with  the  moon,  we  must  be  up  and  moving  again,  I 
remember  to  have  fou't  the  Maquas  hereaways,  in  the 
first  war  in  which  I  ever  drew  blood  from  man;  and 
we  threw  up  a  work  of  blocks,  to  keep  the  ravenous  var 
mints  from  handling  our  scalps.  If  my  marks  do  not 
fail  me,  we  shall  find  the  place  a  few  rods  farther  to 
our  left." 

Without  waiting  for  an  assent,  or,  indeed,  for  any 
reply,  the  sturdy  hunter  moved  boldly  into  a  dense  thicket 
of  young  chestnuts,  shoving  aside  the  branches  of  the 
exuberant  shoots  which  nearly  covered  the  ground,  like 
a  man  who  expected,  at  each  step,  to  discover  some  ob 
ject  he  had  formerly  known.  The  recollection  of  the 
scout  did  not  deceive  him.  After  penetrating  through 
the  brush,  matted  as  it  was  with  briers,  for  a  few  hun 
dred  feet,  he  entered  an  open  space,  that  surrounded  a 
low,  green  hillock,  which  was  crowned  by  the  decayed 


1 78  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

block-house  in  question.  This  rude  and  neglected  build 
ing  was  one  of  those  deserted  works,  which,  having  been 
thrown  up  on  an  emergency,  had  been  abandoned  with 
the  disappearance  of  danger,  and  was  now  quietly 
crumbling  in  the  solitude  of  the  forest,  neglected,  and 
nearly  forgotten,  like  the  circumstances  which  had 
caused  it  to  be  reared.  Such  memorials  of  the  passage 
and  struggles  of  man  are  yet  frequent  throughout  the 
broad  barrier  of  wilderness  which  once  separated  the 
hostile  provinces,  and  form  a  species  of  ruins  that  are 
intimately  associated  with  the  recollections  of  colonial 
history,  and  which  are  in  appropriate  keeping  with  the 
gloomy  character  of  the  surrounding  scenery.1  The  roof 
of  bark  had  long  since  fallen,  and  mingled  with  the  soil; 
but  the  huge  logs  of  pine,  which  had  been  hastily  thrown 
together,  still  preserved  their  relative  positions,  though 
one  angle  of  the  work  had  given  way  under  the  pressure, 
and  threatened  a  speedy  downfall  to  the  remainder  of  the 

1  Some  years  since,  the  writer  was  shooting  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  ruins  of  Fort  Oswego,  which  stands  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
Ontario.  His  game  was  deer,  and  his  chase  a  forest  that 
stretched  with  little  interruption,  fifty  miles  inland.  Unex 
pectedly  he  came  upon  six  or  eight  ladders  lying  in  the  woods 
within  a  short  distance  of  each  other.  They  were  rudely  made, 
and  much  decayed.  Wondering  what  could  have  assembled  so 
many  of  these  instruments  in  such  a  place,  he  sought  an  old  man 
who  resided  near  for  the  explanation. 

During  the  war  of  1776  Fort  Oswego  was  held  by  the  British. 
An  expedition  had  been  sent  two  hundred  miles  through  the 
wilderness  to  surprise  the  fort.  It  appears  that  the  Americans, 
on  reaching  the  spot  named,  which  was  within  a  mile  or  two  of 
the  fort,  first  learned  that  they  were  expected,  and  in  great 
danger  of  being  cut  off.  They  threw  away  their  scaling-ladders, 
and  made  a  rapid  retreat.  These  ladders  had  lain  unmolested 
thirty  years,  in  the  spot  where  they  had  thus  been  cast. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  179 

rustic  edifice.  While  Heyward  and  his  companions  hesi 
tated  to  approach  a  building  so  decayed,  Hawkeye  and 
the  Indians  entered  within  theflow  walls,  not  only  with 
out  fear,  but  with  obvious  interest.  While  the  former 
surveyed  the  ruins,  both  internally  and  externally,  with 
the  curiosity  of  one  whose  recollections  were  reviving 
at  each  moment,  Chingachgook  related  to  his  son,  in  the 
language  of  the  Delawares,  and  with  the  pride  of  a  con 
queror,  the  brief  history  of  the  skirmish  which  had  been 
fought,  in  his  youth,  in  that  secluded  spot.  A  strain  of 
melancholy,  however,  blended  with  his  triumph,  render 
ing  his  voice,  as  usual,  soft  and  musical. 

In  the  meantime,  the  sisters  gladly  dismounted,  and 
prepared  to  enjoy  their  halt  in  the  coolness  of  the  even 
ing,  and  in  a  security  which  they  believed  nothing  but 
the  beasts  of  the  forest  could  invade. 

"  Would  not  our  resting-place  have  been  more  re 
tired,  my  worthy  friend,"  demanded  the  more  vigilant 
Duncan,  perceiving  that  the  scout  had  already  finished 
his  short  survey,  "  had  we  chosen  a  spot  less  known, 
and  one  more  rarely  visited  than  this  ?  " 

"  Few  live  who  know  the  block-house  was  ever  raised," 
was  the  slow  and  musing  answer;  "'tis  not  often  that 
books  are  made,  and  narratives  written,  of  such  a  skrim- 
mage  as  was  here  fou't  atween  the  Mohicans  and  the 
Mohawks,  in  a  war  of  their  own  waging.  I  was  then 
a  younker,  and  went  out  with  the  Delawares,  because  I 
know'd  they  were  a  scandalized  and  wronged  race.  Forty 
days  and  forty  nights  did  the  imps  crave  our  blood 
around  this  pile  of  logs,  which  I  designed  and  partly 
reared,  being,  as  you'll  remember,  no  Indian  myself,  but 
a  man  without  a  cross.  The  Delawares  lent  themselves 
to  the  work,  and  we  made  it  good,  ten  to  twenty,  until 


i8o  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

our  numbers  were  nearly  equal,  and  then  we  sallied  out 
upon  the  hounds,  and  not  a  man  of  them  ever  got  back 
to  tell  the  fate  of  his  party.  Yes,  yes ;  I  was  then  young, 
and  new  to  the  sight  of  blood;  and  not  relishing  the 
thought  that  creatures  who  had  spirits  like  myself  should 
lay  on  the  naked  ground,  to  be  torn  asunder  by  beasts, 
or  to  bleach  in  the  rains,  I  buried  the  dead  with  my  own 
hands,  under  that  very  little  hillock  where  you  have 
placed  yourselves ;  and  no  bad  seat  does  it  make  neither, 
though  it  be  raised  by  the  bones  of  mortal  men." 

Heyward  and  the  sisters  arose,  on  the  instant,  from 
the  grassy  sepulchre;  nor  could  the  two  latter,  notwith 
standing  the  terrific  scenes  they  had  so  recently  passed 
through,  entirely  suppress  an  emotion  of  natural  horror, 
when  they  found  themselves  in  such  familiar  contact 
with  the  grave  of  the  dead  Mohawks.  The  gray  light, 
the  gloomy  little  area  of  dark  grass,  surrounded  by  itj 
border  of  brush,  beyond  which  the  pines  rose,  in  breath 
ing  silence,  apparently,  into  the  very  clouds,  and  the 
deathlike  stillness  of  the  vast  forest,  were  all  in  unison 
to  deepen  such  a  sensation. 

"  They  are  gone,  and  they  are  harmless,"  continued 
Hawkeye,  waving  his  hand,  with  a  melancholy  smile,  at 
their  manifest  alarm :  "  they'll  never  shout  the  war- 
whoop  nor  strike  a  blow  with  the  tomahawk  again !  And 
of  all  those  who  aided  in  placing  them  where  they  lie, 
Chingachgook  and  I  only  are  living!  The  brothers  and 
family  of  the  Mohican  formed  our  war-party;  and  you 
see  before  you  all  that  are  now  left  of  his  race." 

The  eyes  of  the  listeners  involuntarily  sought  the  forms 
of  the  Indians,  with  a  compassionate  interest  in  their 
desolate  fortune.  The  dark  persons  were  still  to  be  seen 
within  the  shadows  of  the  block-house,  the  son  listening 


The  Last  of  the   Mohicans  181 

to  the  relation  of  his  father  with  that  sort  of  intenseness 
which  would  be  created  by  a  narrative  that  redounded 
so  much  to  the  honor  of  those  whose  names  he  had  long 
revered  for  their  courage  and  savage  virtues. 

"  I  had  thought  the  Delawares  a  pacific  people,"  said 
Duncan,  "  and  that  they  never  waged  war  in  person ; 
trusting  the  defense  of  their  lands  to  those  very  Mo 
hawks  that  you  slew  !  " 

"  Tis  true  in  part,"  returned  the  scout,  "  and  yet,  at 
the  bottom,  'tis  a  wicked  lie.  Such  a  treaty  was  made 
in  ages  gone  by,  through  the  deviltries  of  the  Butchers, 
who  wished  to  disarm  the  natives  that  had  the  best  right 
to  the  country  where  they  had  settled  themselves.  The 
Mohicans,  though  a  part  of  the  same  nation,  having  to 
deal  with  the  English,  never  entered  into  the  silly  bar 
gain,  but  kept  to  their  manhood ;  as  in  truth  did  the  Dela 
wares,  when  their  eyes  were  opened  to  their  folly.  You 
see  before  you  a  chief  of  the  great  Mohican  Sagamores ! 
Once  his  family  could  chase  their  deer  over  tracts  of 
country  wider  than  that  which  belongs  to  the  Albany 
Patteroon,  without  crossing  brook  or  hill  that  was  not 
their  own;  but  what  is  left  to  their  descendant!  He 
may  find  his  six  feet  of  earth  when  God  chooses,  and 
keep  it  in  peace,  perhaps,  if  he  has  a  friend  who  will 
take  the  pains  to  sink  his  head  so  low  that  the  plow 
shares  cannot  reach  it !  " 

"  Enough !  "  said  Heyward,  apprehensive  that  the  sub 
ject  might  lead  to  a  discussion  that  would  interrupt  the 
harmony  so  necessary  to  the  preservation  of  his  fair 
companions :  "  we  have  journeyed  far,  and  few  among 
us  are  blessed  with  forms  like  that  of  yours,  which  seems 
to  know  neither  fatigue  nor  weakness." 

"  The  sinews  and  bones  of  a  man  carry  me  through  it 


1 82  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

all,"  said  the  hunter,  surveying  his  muscular  limbs  with 
a,  simplicity  that  betrayed  the  honest  pleasure  the  com 
pliment  afforded  him :  "  there  are  larger  and  heavier  men 
to  be  found  in  the  settlements,  but  you  might  travel  many 
days  in  a  city  before  you  could  meet  one  able  to  walk 
fifty  miles  without  stopping  to  take  breath,  or  who  has 
kept  the  hounds  within  hearing  during  a  chase  of  hours. 
However,  as  flesh  and  blood  are  not  always  the  same, 
it  is  quite  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  gentle  ones  are 
willing  to  rest,  after  all  they  have  seen  and  done  this  day. 
Uncas,  clear  out  the  spring,  while  your  father  and  I  make 
a  cover  for  their  tender  heads  of  these  chestnut  shoots, 
and  a  bed  of  grass  and  leaves." 

The  dialogue  ceased,  while  the  hunter  and  his  com 
panions  busied  themselves  in  preparations  for  the  com 
fort  and  protection  of  those  they  guided.  A  spring, 
which  many  long  years  before  had  induced  the  natives 
to  select  the  place  for  their  temporary  fortification,  was 
soon  cleared  of  leaves,  and  a  fountain  of  crystal  gushed 
from  the  bed,  diffusing  its  waters  over  the  verdant  hill 
ock.  A  corner  of  the  building  was  then  roofed  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  exclude  the  heavy  dew  of  the  climate, 
and  piles  of  sweet  shrubs  and  dried  leaves  were  laid 
beneath  it  for  the  sisters  to  repose  on. 

While  the  diligent  woodsmen  were  employed  in  this 
manner,  Cora  and  Alice  partook  of  that  refreshment 
which  duty  required  much  more  than  inclination 
prompted  them  to  accept.  They  then  retired  within  the 
walls,  and  first  offering  up  their  thanksgiving  for  past 
mercies,  and  petitioning  for  a  continuance  of  the  Divine 
favor  throughout  the  coming  night,  they  laid  their  tender 
forms  on  the  fragrant  couch,  and  in  spite  of  recollec 
tions  and  forebodings,  soon  sank  into  those  slumbers 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  183 

which  nature  so  imperiously  demanded,  and  which  were 
sweetened  by  hopes  for  the  morrow.  Duncan  had  pre 
pared  himself  to  pass  the  night  in  watchfulness  near 
them,  just  without  the  ruin,  but  the  scout,  perceiving  his 
intention,  pointed  towards  Chingachgook,  as  he  coolly 
disposed  his  own  person  on  the  grass,  and  said — 

"  The  eyes  of  a  white  man  are  too  heavy  and  too  blind 
for  such  a  watch  as  this !  The  Mohican  will  be  our 
sentinel,  therefore  let  us  sleep." 

"  I  proved  myself  a  sluggard  on  my  post  during  the 
past  night,"  said  Heyward,  "  and  have  less  need  of  re 
pose  than  you,  who  did  more  credit  to  the  character  of 
a  soldier.  Let  all  the  party  seek  their  rest,  then,  while 
I  hold  guard." 

"If  we  lay  among  the  white  tents  of  the  6oth,  and  in 
front  of  an  enemy  like  the  French,  I  could  not  ask  for  a 
better  watchman/'  returned  the  scout ;  "  but  in  the  dark 
ness  and  among  the  signs  of  the  wilderness  your  judg 
ment  would  be  like  the  folly  of  a  child,  and  your  vigi 
lance  thrown  away.  Do  then,  like  Uncas  and  myself, 
sleep,  and  sleep  in  safety." 

Heyward  perceived,  in  truth,  that  the  younger  Indian 
had  thrown  his  form  on  the  side  of  the  hillock  while 
they  were  talking,  like  one  who  sought  to  make  the  most 
of  the  time  allotted  to  rest,  and  that  his  example  had 
been  followed  by  David,  whose  voice  literally  "  clove  to 
his  jaws/'  with  the  fever  of  his  wound,  heightened,  as 
it  was,  by  their  toilsome  march.  Unwilling  to  prolong 
a  useless  discussion,,  the  young  man  affected  to  comply, 
by  posting  his  back  against  the  logs  of  the  block-house, 
in  a  half -recumbent  posture,  though  resolutely  deter 
mined,  in  his  own  mind,  not  to  close  an  eye  until  he  had 
delivered  his  precious  charge  into  the  arms  of  Munro 


184  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

himself.  Hawkeye,  believing  he  had  prevailed,  soon 
fell  asleep,  and  a  silence  as  deep  as  the  solitude  in  which 
fhey  had  found  it,  pervaded  the  retired  spot. 

For  many  minutes  Duncan  succeeded  in  keeping  his 
senses  on  the  alert,  and  alive  to  every  moaning  sound 
that  arose  from  the  forest.  His  vision  became  more 
acutt'  as  the  shades  of  evening  settled  on  the  place;  and 
even  after  the  stars  were  glimmering  above  his  head,  he 
was  able  to  distinguish  the  recumbent  forms  of  his  com 
panions,  as  they  lay  stretched  on  the  grass,  and  to  note 
the  person  of  Chingachgook,  who  sat  upright  and  mo- 
xionless  as  one  of  the  trees  which  formed  the  dark  bar-, 
Her  on  every  side.  He  still  heard  the  gentle  breathings 
of  the  sisters,  who  lay  within  a  few  feet  of  him,  and 
jnot  a  leaf  was  ruffled  by  the  passing  air,  of  which  his 
ear  did  not  detect  the  whispering  sound.  At  length,  how 
ever,  the  mournful  notes  of  a  whippoorwill  became 
blended  with  the  moanings  of  an  owl ;  his  heavy  eyes  oc 
casionally  sought  the  bright  rays  of  the  stars,  and  then 
he  fancied  he  saw  them  through  the  fallen  lids.  At 
instants  of  momentary  wakefulness  he  mistook  a  bush 
for  his  associate  sentinel;  his  head  next  sank  upon  his 
shoulder,  which,  in  its  turn,  sought  the  support  of  the 
ground ;  and,  finally,  his  whole  person  became  relaxed 
and  pliant,  and  the  young  man  sank  into  a  deep  sleep, 
dreaming  that  he  was  a  knight  of  ancient  chivalry,  hold 
ing  his  midnight  vigils  before  the  tent  of  a  recaptured 
princess,  whose  favor  he  did  not  despair  of  gaining,  by 
such  a  proof  of  devotion  and  watchfulness. 

How  long  the  tired  Duncan  lay  in  this  insensible  state 
he  never  knew  himself,  but  his  slumbering  visions  had 
been  long  lost  in  total  forgetfulness,  when  he  was  awak 
ened  by  a  light  tap  on  the  shoulder.  Aroused  by  this 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  185 

signal,  slight  as  it  was,  he  sprang  upon  his  feet  with  a 
confused  recollection  of  the  self-imposed  duty  he  had 
-assumed  with  the  commencement  of  the  night. 

"  Who  comes  ?  "  he  demanded,  feeling  for  his  sword 
at  the  place  where  it  was  usually  suspended.  "  Speak ! 
friend  or  enemy?" 

"  Friend/'  replied  the  low  voice  of  Chingachgook  ; 
who,  pointing  upwards  at  the  luminary  which  was  shed 
ding  its  mild  light  through  the  opening  in  the  trees,  di 
rectly  in  their  bivouac,  immediately  added,  in  his  rude 
English,  "  moon  comes,  and  white  man's  fort  far — far 
off;  time  to  move,  when  sleep  shuts  both  eyes  of  the 
Frenchman !  " 

"  You  say  true !  call  up  your  friends,  and  bridle  the 
horses,  while  I  prepare  my  own  companions  for  the 
march !  " 

"  We  are  awake,  Duncan,"  said  the  soft,  silvery  tones 
of  Alice  within  the  building,  "  and  ready  to  travel  very 
fast  after  so  refreshing  a  sleep ;  but  you  have  watched 
through  the  tedious  night  in  our  behalf,  after  having 
endured  so  much  fatigue  the  livelong  day !  " 

"  Say,  rather,  I  would  have  watched,  but  my  treach 
erous  eyes  betrayed  me;  twice  have  I  proved  myself  un 
fit  for  the  trust  I  bear." 

"  Nay,  Duncan,  deny  it  not,"  interrupted  the  smiling 
Alice,  issuing  from  the  shadows  of  the  building  into 
the  light  of  the  moon,  in  all  the  loveliness  of  her  fresh 
ened  beauty ;  "  I  know  you  to  be  a  heedless  one,  when 
self  is  the  object  of  your  care,  and  but  too  vigilant  in 
favor  of  others.  Can  we  not  tarry  here  a  little  longer, 
while  you  find  the  rest  you  need?  Cheerfully,  most 
cheerfully,  will  Cora  and  I  keep  the  vigils,  while  you,  and 
all  these  brave  men,  endeavor  to  snatch  a  little  sleep !  " 


1 86  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  If  shame  could  cure  me  of  my  drowsiness,  I  should 
never  close  an  eye  again,"  said  the  uneasy  youth,  gazing 
at  the  ingenuous  countenance  of  Alice,  where,  however, 
in  its  sweet  solicitude,  he  read  nothing  to  confirm  his 
half-awakened  suspicion.  "  It  is  but  too  true,  that  after 
leading  you  into  danger  by  my  heedlessness,  I  have  not 
even  the  merit  of  guarding  your  pillows  as  should  be 
come  a  soldier." 

"  No  one  but  Duncan  himself  should  accuse  Duncan 
of  such  a  weakness.  Go,  then,  and  sleep ;  believe  me, 
neither  of  us,  weak  girls  as  we  are,  will  betray  our 
watch." 

The  young  man  was  relieved  from  the  awkwardness 
of  making  any  further  protestations  of  his  own  demerits, 
by  an  exclamation  from  Chingachgook,  and  the  attitude 
of  riveted  attention  assumed  by  his  son. 

"  The  Mohicans  hear  an  enemy !  "  whispered  Hawk- 
eye,  who,  by  this  time,  in  common  with  the  whole  party, 
was  awake  and  stirring.  '  They  scent  danger  in  the 
winds !  " 

"  God  forbid !  "  exclaimed  Heyward.  "  Surely  we 
have  had  enough  of  bloodshed !  " 

While  he  spoke,  however,  the  young  soldier  seized 
his  rifle,  and  advancing  towards  the  front,  prepared  to 
atone  for  his  venial  remissness,  by  freely  exposing  his 
life  in  defense  of  those  he  attended. 

'Tis  some  creature  of  the  forest  prowling  around  us 
in  quest  of  food,"  he  said,  in  a  whisper,  as  soon  as  the 
low,  and  apparently  distant  sounds,  which  had  startled 
the  Mohicans,  reached  his  own  ears. 

"  Hist !  "  returned  the  attentive  scout ;  "  'tis  man ;  even 
I  can  now  tell  his  tread,  poor  as  my  senses  are  when 
compared  to  an  Indian's !  That  scampering  Huron  has 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  187 

fallen  in  with  one  of  Montcalm's  outlying  parties,  and 
they  have  struck  upon  our  trail.  I  shouldn't  like,  myself, 
to  spill  more  human  blood  in  this  spot/'  he  added,  look 
ing  around  with  anxiety  in  his  features,  at  the  dim  ob 
jects  by  which  he  was  surrounded;  "  but  what  must  be, 
must!  Lead  the  horses  into  the  block-house,  Uncas; 
and,  friends,  do  you  follow  to  the  same  shelter.  Poor 
and  old  as  it  is,  it  offers  a  cover,  and  has  rung  with  the 
crack  of  a  rifle  afore  to-night!" 

He  was  instantly  obeyed,  the  Mohicans  leading  the 
Narragansetts  within  the  ruin,  whither  the  whole  party 
repaired  with  the  most  guarded  silence. 

The  sounds  of  approaching  footsteps  were  now  too 
distinctly  audible  to  leave  any  doubts  as  to  the  nature 
of  the  interruption.  They  were  soon  mingled  with  voices 
calling  to  each  other  in  an  Indian  dialect,  which  the 
hunter,  in  a  whisper,  affirmed  to  Heyward  was  the  lan 
guage  of  the  Hurons.  When  the  party  reached  the  point 
where  the  horses  had  entered  the  thicket  which  sur 
rounded  the  block-house,  they  were  evidently  at  fault, 
having  lost  those  marks  which,  until  that  moment,  had 
directed  their  pursuit. 

It  would  seem  by  the  voices  that  twenty  men  were 
soon  collected  at  that  one  spot,  mingling  their  different 
opinions  and  advice  in  noisy  clamor. 

"  The  knaves  know  our  weakness,"  whispered  Hawk- 
eye,  who  stood  by  the  side  of  Heyward,  in  deep  shade, 
looking  through  an  opening  in  the  logs,  "  or  they  wouldn't 
indulge  their  idleness  in  such  a  squaw's  march.  Listen 
to  the  reptiles !  each  man  among  them  seems  to  have 
two  tongues,  and  but  a  single  leg." 

Duncan,  brave  as  he  was  in  th€  combat,  could  not,  in 
such  a  moment  of  painful  suspense,  make  any  reply  to 


1 88  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  cool  and  characteristic  remark  of  the  scout.  He  only 
grasped  his  rifle  more  firmly,  and  fastened  his  eyes  upon 
the  narrow  opening,  through  which  he  gazed  upon  the 
moonlight  view  with  increasing  anxiety.  The  deeper 
tones  of  one  who  spoke  as  having  authority  were  next 
heard,  amid  a  silence  that  denoted  the  respect  with  which 
his  orders,  or  rather  advice,  was  received.  After  which, 
by  the  rustling  of  leaves,  and  cracking  of  dried  twigs, 
it  was  apparent  the  savages  were  separating  in  pursuit 
of  the  lost  trail.  Fortunately  for  the  pursued,  the  light 
of  the  moon,  while  it  shed  a  flood  of  mild  luster  upon 
the  little  area  around  the  ruin,  was  not  sufficiently  strong 
to  penetrate  the  deep  arches  of  the  forest,  where  the  ob 
jects  still  lay  in  deceptive  shadow.  The  search  proved 
fruitless;  for  so  short  and  sudden  had  been  the  passage 
from  the  faint  path  the  travelers  had  journeyed  into  the 
thicket,  that  every  trace  of  their  footsteps  was  lost  in 
the  obscurity  of  the  woods. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  restless  savages 
were  heard  beating  the  brush,  and  gradually  approaching 
the  inner  edge  of  that  dense  border  of  young  chestnuts 
which  encircled  the  little  area. 

'  They  are  coming,"  muttered  Heyward,  endeavoring 
to  thrust  his  rifle  through  the  chink  in  the  logs ;  "  let  us 
fire  on  their  approach." 

"Keep  everything  in  the  shade,"  returned  the  scout; 
"  the  snapping  of  a  flint,  or  even  the  smell  of  a  single 
karnal  of  the  brimstone,  would  bring  the  hungry  varlets 
upon  us  in  a  body.  Should  it  please  God  that  we  must 
give  battle  for  the  scalps,  trust  to  the  experience  of  men 
who  know  the  ways  of  the  savages,  and  who  are  not 
often  backward  when  the  war-whoop  is  howled." 

Duncan  cast  his  eyes  behind  him,  and  saw  that  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  189 

trembling  sisters  were  cowering  in  the  far  corner  of  the 
building,  while  the  Mohicans  stood  in  the  shadow,  like 
two  upright  posts,  ready,  and  apparently  willing,  to 
strike  when  the  blow  should  be  needed.  Curbing  his 
impatience,  he  again  looked  out  upon  the  area,  and 
awaited  the  result  in  silence.  At  that  instant  the  thicket 
opened,  and  a  tall  and  armed  Huron  advanced  a  few 
paces  into  the  open  space.  As  he  gazed  upon  the  silent 
block-house,  the  moon  fell  upon  his  swarthy  counte 
nance,  and  betrayed  its  surprise  and  curiosity.  He  made 
the  exclamation  which  usually  accompanies  the  former 
emotion  in  an  Indian,  and,  calling  in  a  low  voice,  soon 
drew  a  companion  to  his  side. 

These  children  of  the  woods  stood  together  for  sev 
eral  moments  pointing  at  the  crumbling  edifice,  and  con 
versing  in  the  unintelligible  language  of  their  tribe. 
They  then  approached,  though  with  slow  and  cautious 
steps,  pausing  every  instant  to  look  at  the  building,  like 
startled  deer,  whose  curiosity  struggled  powerfully  with 
their  awakened  apprehensions  for  the  mastery.  The  foot 
of  orre  of  them  suddenly  rested  on  the  mound,  and  he 
stooped  to  examine  its  nature.  At  this  moment,  Hey- 
ward  observed  that  the  scout  loosened  his  knife  in  its 
sheath,  and  lowered  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle.  Imitating 
these  movements,  the  young  man  prepared  himself  for 
the  struggle,  which  now  seemed  inevitable. 

The  savages  were  so  near,  that  the  least  motion  in  one 
of  the  horses,  or  even  a  breath  louder  than  common, 
would  have  betrayed  the  fugitives.  But,  in  discovering 
the  character  of  the  mound,  the  attention  of  the  Hurons 
appeared  directed  to  a  different  object.  They  spoke  to 
gether,  and  the  sounds  of  their  voices  were  low  and  sol 
emn,  as  if  influenced  by  a  reverence  that  was  deeply 


190  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

blended  with  awe.  Then  they  drew  warily  back,  keeping 
their  eyes  riveted  on  the  ruin,  as  if  they  expected  to  see 
the  apparitions  of  the  dead  issue  from  its  silent  walls, 
until  having  reached  the  boundary  of  the  area,  they 
moved  slowly  into  the  thicket  and  disappeared. 

Hawkeye  dropped  the  breech  of  his  rifle  to  the  earth, 
i  and  drawing  a  long,  free  breath,  exclaimed,  in  an  audible 
whisper, — 

"  Aye,  they  respect  the  dead,  and  it  has  this  time  saved 
their  own  lives,  and,  it  may  be,  the  lives  of  better  men 
too." 

Heyward  lent  his  attention  for  a  single  moment,  to  his 
companion,  but  without  replying,  he  again  turned  to 
wards  those  who  just  then  interested  him  more.  He 
heard  the  two  Hurons  leave  the  bushes,  and  it  was  soon 
plain  that  all  the  pursuers  were  gathered  about  them, 
in  deep  attention  to  their  report.  After  a  few  minutes 
of  earnest  and  solemn  dialogue,  altogether  different  from 
the  noisy  clamor  with  which  they  had  first  collected 
about  the  spot,  the  sounds  grew  fainter  and  more  dis 
tant,  and  finally  were  lost  in  the  depths  of  the  forest. 

Hawkeye  waited  until  a  signal  from  the  listening 
Chingachgook  assured  him  that  every  sound  from  the 
retiring  party  was  completely  swallowed  by  the  distance, 
when  he  motioned  to  Heyward  to  lead  forth  the  horses, 
and  to  assist  the  sisters  into  their  saddles.  The  instant 
this  was  done,  they  issued  through  the  broken  gateway, 
and  stealing  out  by  a  direction  opposite  to  the  one  by 
which  they  had  entered,  they  quitted  the  spot,  the  sisters 
casting  furtive  glances  at  the  silent  grave  and  crumbling 
ruin,  as  they  left  the  soft  light  of  the  moon,  to  bury 
themselves  in  the  gloom  of  the  woods. 


"  The  Scout  resumed  his  post  in  the  advance." — Page  191. 


CHAPTER 
XIV. 


"Guard.— Qui  est  la? 
Puc. — Paisans,  pauvres  gens  de  France." 

King  Henry  VI. 

DURING  the  rapid  movement  from  the  block-house, 
and  until  the  party  was  deeply  buried  in  the  forest, 
each  individual  was  too  much  interested  in  the  escape 
to  hazard  a  word  even  in  whispers.  The  scout  resumed 
his  post  in  the  advance,  though  his  steps,  after  he  had 
thrown  a  safe  distance  between  himself  and  his  enemies, 
were  more  deliberate  than  in  their  previous  march,  in 
consequence  of  his  utter  ignorance  of  the  localities  of 
the  surrounding  woods.  More  than  once  he  halted  to 
consult  with  his  confederates,  the  Mohicans,  pointing 
upwards  at  the  moon,  and  examining  the  barks  of  the 
trees  with  care.  In  these  brief  pauses,  Heyward  and  the 
sisters  listened,  with  senses  rendered  doubly  acute  by 
the  danger,  to  detect  any  symptoms  which  might  an 
nounce  the  proximity  of  their  foes.  At  such  moments,  it 
seemed  as  if  a  vast  range  of  country  lay  buried  in  eter 
nal  sleep ;  not  the  least  sound  arising  from  the  forest, 
unless  it  was  the  distant  and  scarcely  audible  rippling  of 
a  water-course.  Birds,  beasts,  and  man,  appeared  to 

191 


192  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

slumber  alike,  if,  indeed,  any  of  the  latter  were  to  be 
found  in  that  wide  tract  of  wilderness.  But  the  sounds 
of  the  rivulet,  feeble  and  murmuring  as  they  were,  re 
lieved  the  guides  at  once  from  no  trifling  embarrassment, 
and  towards  it  they  immediately  held  their  way. 

When  the  banks  of  the  little  stream  were  gained, 
Hawkeye  made  another  halt ;  and,  taking  the  moccasins 
from  his  feet,  he  invited  Heyward  and  Gamut  to  follow 
his  example.  He  then  entered  the  water,  and  for  near 
an  hour  they  traveled  in  the  bed  of  the  brook,  leaving  no 
trail.  The  moon  had  already  sunk  into  an  immense  pile 
of  black  clouds,  which  lay  impending  above  the  western 
horizon,,  when  they  issued  from  the  low  and  devious 
water-course  to  rise  again  to  the  light  and  level  of  the 
sandy  but  wooded  plain.  Here'  the  scout  seemed  to  be 
once  more  at  home,  for  he  held  on  his  way  with  the 
certainty  and  diligence  of  a  man  who  moved  in  the 
security  of  his  own  knowledge.  The  path  soon  became 
more  uneven,  and  the  travelers  could  plainly  perceive 
that  the  mountains  drew  nigher  to  them  on  each  hand, 
and  that  they  were,  in  truth,  about  entering  one  of  their 
gorges.  Suddenly,  Hawkeye  made  a  pause,  and  waiting 
until  he  was  joined  by  the  whole  party,  he  spoke,  though 
in  tones  so  low  and  cautious,  that  they  added  to  the 
solemnity  of  his  words,  in  the  quiet  and  darkness  of  the 
place. 

"  It  is  easy  to  know  the  pathways,  and  to  find  the 
licks  and  water-courses  of  the  wilderness,"  he  said ;  "  but 
who  that  saw  this  spot  could  venture  to  say,  that  a  mighty 
army  was  at  rest  among  yonder  silent  trees  and  barren 
mountains  ?  " 

"  We  are  then  at  no  great  distance  from  William 
Henry  ?  "  said  Heyward,  advancing  nigher  to  the  scout. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  193 

"  It  is  yet  a  long  and  weary  path,  and  when  and  where 
to  strike  it,  is  now  our  greatest  difficulty.  See,"  he  said, 
pointing  through  the  trees  towards  a  spot  where  a  little 
basin  of  water  reflected  the  stars  from  its  placid  bosom, 
"  here  is  the  '  bloody  pond  ' ;  and  I  am  on  the  ground  that 
I  have  not  only  often  traveled,  but  over  which  I  have 
fou't  the  enemy,  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun." 

"  Ha !  that  sheet  of  dull  and  dreary  water,  then,  is  the 
sepulcher  of  the  brave  men  who  fell  in  the  contest.  I 
have  heard  it  named,  but  never  have  I  stood  on  its  banks 
before." 

"  Three  battles  did  we  make  with  the  Dutch- 
Frenchman  1  in  a  day,"  continued  Hawkeye,  pursuing 
the  train  of  his  own  thoughts,  rather  than  replying  to 
the  remark  of  Duncan.  "  He  met  us  hard  by,  in  our  out 
ward  march  to  ambush  his  advance,  and  scattered  us,  like 
driven  deer,  through  the  defile.,  to  the  shores  of  Horican. 
Then  we  rallied  behind  our  fallen  trees,  and  made  head 
against  him,  under  Sir  William — who  was  made  Sir 
William  for  that  very  deed ;  and  well  did  we  pay  him 
for  the  disgrace  of  the  morning !  Hundreds  of  French 
men  saw  the  sun  that  day  for  the  last  time;  and  even 
the  leader,  Dieskau  himself,  fell  into  our  hands  so  cut 
and  torn  with  the  lead,  that  he  has  gone  back  to  his  own 
country,  unfit  for  further  acts  in  war." 

"  Twas  a  noble  repulse !  "  exclaimed  Heyward,  in  the 
heat  of  his  youthful  ardor;  "the  fame  of  it  reached  us 
early,  in  our  southern  army." 

"  Aye !  but  it  did  not  end  there.     I  was  sent  by  Major 

1  Baron  Dieskau,  a  German,  in  the  service  of  France.  A  few 
years  previous  to  the  period  of  the  tale,  this  officer  was  defeated 
by  Sir  William  Johnson  of  Johnstown,  New  York,  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  George. .  See  Appendix,  Note  H. 


194  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Effingham,  at  Sir  William's  own  bidding,  to  outflank 
the  French,  and  carry  the  tidings  of  their  disaster  across 
the  portage,  to  the  fort  on  the  Hudson.  Just  hereaway, 
where  you  see  the  trees  rise  into  a  mountain  swell,  I 
met  a  party  coming  down  to  our  aid,  and  I  led  them 
where  the  enemy  were  taking  their  meal,  little  dreaming 
that  they  had  not  finished  the  bloody  work  of  the  day." 

"  And  you  surprised  them  ?  " 

"  If  death  can  be  a  surprise  to  men  who  are  thinking 
only  of  the  cravings  of  their  appetites.  We  gave  them 
but  little  breathing  time,  for  they  had  borne  hard  upon 
us  in  the  fight  of  the  morning,  and  there  were  few  in 
our  party  who  had  not  lost  friend  or  relative  by  their 
hands.  When  all  was  over,  the  dead,  and  some  say  the 
dying,  were  cast  into  that  little  pond.  These  eyes  have 
seen  its  waters  colored  with  blood,  as  natural  water 
never  yet  flowed  from  the  bowels  of  the  'arth." 

"  It  was  a  convenient,  and,  I  trust,  will  prove  a  peace 
ful  grave  for  a  soldier.  You  have,  then,  seen  much  serv 
ice  on  this  frontier?" 

"  I !  "  said  the  scout,  erecting  his  tall  person  with  an 
air  of  military  pride ;  "  there  are  not  many  echoes  among 
these  hills  that  haven't  rung  with  the  crack  of  my  rifle, 
nor  is  there  the  space  of  a  square  mile  atwixt  Horican 
and  the  river,  that  '  Killdeer  '  hasn't  dropped  a  living 
body  on,  be  it  an  enemy  or  be  it  a  brute  beast.  As  for 
the  grave,  there,  being  as  quiet  as  you  mention,  it  is 
another  matter.  There  are  them  in  the  camp  who  say 
and  think,  man,  to  lie  still,  should  not  be  buried  while 
the  breath  is  in  the  body;  and  certain  it  is  that  in  the 
hurry  of  that  evening,  the  doctors  had  but  little  time  to 
say  who  was  living  and  who  was  dead.  Hist !  see  you 
nothing  walking  on  the  shore  of  the  pond  ? " 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  195 

"  Tis  not  probable  that  any  are  as  houseless  as  our 
selves,  in  this  dreary  forest." 

"  Such  as  he  may  care  but  little  for  house  or  shelter, 
and  night  dew  can  never  wet  a  body  that  passes  its  days 
in  the  water,"  returned  the  scout,  grasping  the  shoulder 
of  Hey  ward  with  such  convulsive  strength  as  to  make 
the  young  soldier  painfully  sensible  how  much  supersti 
tious  terror  had  got  the  mastery  of  a  man  usually  so 
dauntless. 

"  By  heaven !  there  is  a  human  form,  and  it  ap 
proaches  !  Stand  to  your  arms,  my  friends ;  for  we 
know  not  whom  we  encounter." 

"  Qui  vive?"  demanded  a  stern,  quick  voice,  which 
sounded  like  a  challenge  from  another  world,  issuing 
out  of  that  solitary  and  solemn  place. 

"What  says  it?"  whispered  the  scout;  "it  speaks 
neither  Indian  nor  English !  " 

"Qui  vive?"  repeated  the  same  voice,  which  was 
quickly  followed  by  the  rattling  of  arms,  and  a  menacing 
attitude. 

"  France ! "  cried  Heyward,  advancing  from  the 
shadow  of  the  trees  to  the  shore  of  the  pond,  within 
a  few  yards  of  the  sentinel. 

"  D'ou  venez-vous — ou  allez-vous,  d'aussi  bonne 
heure?"  demanded  the  grenadier,  in  the  language  and 
with  the  accent  of  a  man  from  old  France. 

"  Je  viens  de  la  decouverte,  et  je  vais  me  coucher." 

"  Etes-vous  officier  du  roi  ?  " 

"  Sans  doute,  mon  camarade ;  me  prends-tu  pour  un 
provincial!  Je  suis  capitaine  de  chasseurs  (Heyward 
well  knew  that  the  other  was  of  a  regiment  in  the  line)  ; 
j'ai  ici,  avec  moi,  les  filles  du  commandant  de  la  fortifi 
cation.  Aha!  tu  en  as  entendu  parler!  je  les  ai  fait 


196  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

prisonnieres  pres  de  1'autre  fort,  et  je  les  conduis  au 
general." 

"  Ma  foi!  mesdames;  j'en  suis  fache  pour  vous,"  ex 
claimed  the  young  soldier,  touching  his  cap  with  grace; 
"  mais — fortune  de  guerre !  vous  trouverez  notre  general 
un  brave  homme,  et  bien  poli  avec  les  dames." 

"  C'est  le  caractere  des  gens  de  guerre/'  said  Cora, 
with  admirable  self-possession.  "  Adieu,  mon  ami ;  je 
vous  souhaiterais  un  devoir  plus  agreable  a  remplir." 

The  soldier  made  a  low  and  humble  acknowledgment 
for  her  civility ;  and  Heyward  adding  a  "  Bonne  nuit, 
mon  camarade,"  they  moved  deliberately  forward,  leav 
ing  the  sentinel  pacing  the  banks  of  the  silent  pond,  lit 
tle  suspecting  an  enemy  of  so  much  effrontery,  and  hum 
ming  to  himself  those  words/  which  were  recalled  to  his 
mind  by  the  sight  of  women,  and  perhaps  by  recollections 
of  his  own  distant  and  beautiful  France — 

"  Vive  le  vin,  1'amour,"  etc.,  etc.  ^ 

"  TisVwell  you  understood  the  knave !  "  whispered  the 
scout,  when  they  had  gained  a  little  distance  from  the 
place,  and  letting  his  rifle  fall  into  the  hollow  of  his 
arm  again ;  "  I  soon  saw  that  he  was  one  of  them  un 
easy  Frenchers;  and  well  for  him  it  was  that  his  speech 
was  friendly  and  his  wishes  kind,  or  a  place  might 
have  been  found  for  his  bones  among  those  of  his 
countrymen." 

He  was  interrupted  by  a  long  and  heavy  groan  which 
arose  from  the  little  basin,  as  though,  in  truth,  the  spirits 
of  the  departed  lingered  about  their  watery  sepulcher. 

"  Surely  it  was  of  flesh !  "  continued  the  scout ;  "  no 
spirit  could  handle  its  arms  so  steadily !  " 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  197 

:t  It  ivas  of  flesh ;  but  whether  the  poor  fellow  still 
belongs  to  this  world  may  well  be  doubted,"  said 
Heyward,  glancing  his  eyes  around  him,  and  missing 
Chingachgook  from  their  little  band.  Another  groan 
more  faint  than  the  former,  was  succeeded  by  a  heavy 
and  sullen  plunge  into  the  water,  and  all  was  as  still 
again  as  if  the  borders  of  the  dreary  pool  had  never 
been  awakened  from  the  silence  of  creation.  While  they 
yet  hesitated  in  uncertainty,  the  form  of  the  Indian  was 
seen  gliding  out  of  the  thicket.  As  the  chief  rejoined 
them,  with  one  hand  he  attached  the  reeking  scalp  of  the 
unfortunate  young  Frenchman  to  his  girdle,  and  with 
the  other  he  replaced  the  knife  and  tomahawk  that  had 
drunk  his  blood.  He  then  took  his  wonted  station,  with 
the  air  of  a  man  who  believed  he  had  done  a  deed  of 
merit. 

The  scout  dropped  one  end  of  his  rifle  to  the  earth, 
and  leaning  his  hands  on  the  other,  he  stood  musing 
in  profound  silence.  Then  shaking  his  head  in  a  mourn 
ful  manner,  he  muttered,— 

'  'Twould  have  been  a  cruel  and  an  unhuman  act  for 
a  white-skin;  but  'tis  the  gift  and  natur'  of  an  Indian, 
and  I  suppose  it  should  not  be  denied.  I  could  wish, 
though,  it  had  befallen  an  accursed  Mingo,  rather  than 
that  gay  young  boy  from  the  old  countries." 

"  Enough !  "  said  Heyward,  apprehensive  the  uncon 
scious  sisters  might  comprehend  the  nature  of  the  de 
tention,  and  conquering  his  disgust  by  a  train  of  reflec 
tions  very  much  like  that  of  the  hunter;  "  'tis  done;  and 
though  better  it  were  left  undone,  cannot  be  amended. 
You  see  we  are,  too  obviously,  within  the  sentinels  of 
the  enemy;  what  course  do  you  propose  to  follow?" 

"  Yes."  said  Hawkeye,  rousing  himself  again,  "  'tis  as 


198  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

you  say,  too  late  to  harbor  further  thoughts  about  it. 
Aye,  the  French  have  gathered  around  the  fort  in  good 
earnest,  and  we  have  a  delicate  needle  to  thread  in  pass 
ing  them." 

"  And  but  little  time  to  do  it  in,"  added  Heyward, 
glancing  his  eyes  upward,  toward  the  bank  of  vapor 
that  concealed  the  setting  moon, 

"  And  little  time  to  do  it  in !  "  repeated  the  scout. 
"  The  thing  may  be  done  in  two  fashions,  by  the  help 
of  Providence,  without  which  it  may  not  be  done  at 
all." 

"  Name  them  quickly,  for  time  presses." 

"  One  would  be  to  dismount  the  gentle  ones,  and  let 
their  beasts  range  the  plain;  by  sending  the  Mohicans  in 
front,  we  might  then  cut  a  lane  through  their  sentries, 
and  enter  the  fort  over  the  dead  bodies." 

"  It  will  not  do — it  will  not  do !  "  interrupted  the  gen 
erous  Heyward ;  "  a  soldier  might  force  his  way  in  this 
manner,  but  never  with  such  a  convoy." 

'Twould  be,  indeed,  a  bloody  path  for  tender  feet 
to  wade  in,"  returned  the  equally  reluctant  scout;  "but 
I  thought  it  befitting  my  manhood  to  name  it.  We  must 
then  turn  on  our  trail  and  get  without  the  line  of  their 
lookouts,  when  we  will  bend  short  to  the  west,  and  enter 
the  mountains ;  where  I  can  hide  you,  so  that  all  the 
devil's  hounds  in  Montcalm's  pay  would  be  thrown  off 
the  scent,  for  months  to  come." 

"  Let  it  be  done,  and  that  instantly." 

Further  words  were  unnecessary;  for  Hawkeye, 
merely  uttering  the  mandate  to  "  follow,"  moved  along 
the  route  by  which  they  had  just  entered  their  present 
eritical  and  even  dangerous  situation.  Their  progress, 
like  their  late  dialogue,  was  guarded,  and  without  noise; 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  199 

for  none  knew  at  what  moment  a  passing  patrol,  or  a 
crouching  picket  of  the  enemy,  might  rise  upon  their 
path.  As  they  held  their  silent  way  along  the  margin 
of  the  pond,  again  Heyward  and  the  scout  stole  furtive 
glances  at  its  appalling  dreariness.  They  looked  in  vain 
for  the  form  they  had  so  recently  seen  stalking  along  its 
silent  shores,  while  a  low  and  regular  wash  of  the  little 
waves,  by  announcing  that  the  waters  were  not  yet  sub 
sided,  furnished  a  frightful  memorial  of  the  deed  of 
blood  they  had  just  witnessed.  Like  all  that  passing  and 
gloomy  scene,  the  low  basin,  however,  quickly  melted  in 
the  darkness,  and  became  blended  with  the  mass  of  black 
objects  in  the  rear  of  the  travelers. 

Hawkeye  soon  deviated  from  the  line  of  their  re 
treat,  and  striking  off  towards  the  mountains  which  form 
the  western  boundary  of  the  narrow  plain,  he  led  his 
followers,  with  swift  steps,  deep  within  the  shadows  that 
were  cast  from  their  high  and  broken  summits.  The 
route  was  now  painful;  lying  over  ground  ragged  with 
rocks,  and  intersected  with  ravines,  and  their  progress 
proportionately  slow.  Bleak  and  black  hills  lay  on  every 
side  of  them,  compensating  in  some  degree  for  the  addi 
tional  toil  of  the  march,  by  the  sense  of  security  they 
imparted.  At  length  the  party  began  slowly  to  climb  a 
steep  and  rugged  ascent,  by  a  path  that  curiously  wound 
among  rocks  and  trees,  avoiding  the  one,  and  supported 
by  the  other,  in  a  manner  that  showed  it  had  been  de 
vised  by  men  long  practised  in  the  arts  of  the  wilder 
ness.  As  they  gradually  rose  from  the  level  of  the  val 
leys,  the  thick  darkness  which  usually  precedes  the  ap 
proach  of  day  began  to  disperse,  and  objects  were  seen 
in  the  plain  and  palpable  colors  with  which  they  had 
been  gifted  by  nature.  When  they '  issued  from  the 


2OO  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

stunted  woods  which  clung  to  the  barren  sides  of  the 
mountain,  upon  a  flat  and  mossy  rock  that  formed  its 
summit,  they  met  the  morning,  as  it  came  blushing  above 
the  green  pines  of  a  hill  that  lay  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  valley  of  the  Horican. 

The  scout  now  told  the  sisters  to  dismount;  and  tak 
ing  the  bridles  from  the  mouths,  and  the  saddles  off  the 
backs  of  the  jaded  beasts,  he  turned  them  loose,  to  glean 
a  scanty  subsistence  among  the  shrubs  and  meager 
herbage  of  that  elevated  region. 

"  Go,"  he  said,  "  and  seek  your  food  where  natur' 
gives  it  you ;  and  beware  that  you  become  not  food  to 
ravenous  wolves  yourselves,  among  these  hills." 

"  Have  we  no  further  need  of  them?"  demanded 
Heyward. 

"  See,  and  judge  with  your  own  eyes,"  said  the  scout, 
advancing  towards  the  eastern  brow  of  the  mountain, 
whither  he  beckoned  for  the  whole  party  to  follow;  "if 
it  was  as  easy  to  look  into  the  heart  of  man  as  it  is 
to  spy  out  the  nakedness  of  Montcalm's  camp  from  this 
spot,  hypocrites  would  grow  scarce,  and  the  cunning  of 
a  Mingo  might  prove  a  losing  game,  compared  to  the 
honesty  of  a  Delaware." 

When  the  travelers  reached  the  verge  of  the  precipice, 
they  saw,  at  a  glance,  the  truth  of  the  scout's  declara 
tion,  and  the  admirable  foresight  with  which  he*  had  led  , 
them  to  their  commanding  station. 

The  mountain  on  which  they  stood,  elevated,  perhaps, 
a  thousand  feet  in  the  air,  was  a  high  cone  that  rose  a 
little  in  advance  of  that  range  which  stretches  for  miles 
along  the  western  shores  of  the  lake,  until  meeting  its 
sister  piles,  beyond  the  water,  it  ran  off  towards  the 
Canadas,  in  confused  and  broken  masses  of  rock,  thinly 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  201 

sprinkled  with  evergreens.  Immediately  at  the  feet  of 
the  party,  the  southern  shore  of  the  Horican  swept  in 
a  broad  semicircle,  from  mountain  to  mountain,  mark 
ing  a  wide  strand,  that  soon  rose  into  an  uneven  and 
somewhat  elevated  plain.  To  the  north,  stretched  the 
limpid,  and,  as  it  appeared  from  that  dizzy  height,  the 
narrow  sheet  of  the  "  holy  lake,"  indented  with  number 
less  bays,  embellished  by  fantastic  headlands,  and  dotted 
with  countless  islands.  At  the  distance  of  a  few  leagues, 
the  bed  of  the  waters  became  lost  among  mountains,  or 
was  wrapped  in  the  masses  of  vapor  that  came  slowly 
rolling  along  their  bosom,  before  a  light  morning  air. 
But  a  narrow  opening  between  the  crests  of  the  hills 
pointed  out  the  passage  by  which  they  found  their  way 
still  farther  north,  to  spread  their  pure  and  ample  sheets 
again,  before  pouring  out  their  tribute  into  the  distant 
Champlain.  To  the  south  stretched  the  defile,  or  rather 
broken  plain,  so  often  mentioned.  For  several  miles  in 
this  direction,  the  mountains  appeared  reluctant  to  yield 
their  dominion,  but  within  reach  of  the  eye  they  diverged, 
and  finally  melted  into  the  level  and  sandy  lands,  across 
which  we  have  accompanied  our  adventurers  in  their 
double  journey.  Along  both  ranges  of  hills,  which 
bounded  the  opposite  sides  of  the  lake  and  valley,  clouds 
of  light  vapor  were  rising  in  spiral  wreaths  from  the 
uninhabited  woods,  looking  like  the  smokes  of  hidden 
cottages ;  or  rolled  lazily  down  the  declivities,  to  mingle 
with  the  fogs  of  the  lower  land.  A  single,  solitary,  snow- 
white  cloud  floated  above  the  valley,  and  marked  the 
spot  beneath  which  lay  the  silent  pool  of  the  "  bloody 
pond." 

Directly  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  and  nearer  to  its 
western   than   to   its   eastern   margin,   lay   the   extensive 


2O2  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

earthen  ramparts  and  low  buildings  of  William  Henry. 
Two  of  the  sweeping  bastions  appeared  to  rest  on  the 
water  which  washed  their  bases,  while  a  deep  ditch  and 
extensive  morasses  guarded  its  other  sides  and  angles. 
The  land  had  been  cleared  of  wood  for  a  reasonable  dis 
tance  around  the  work,  but  every  other  part  of  the  scene 
lay  in  the  green  livery  of  nature,  except  where  the  limpid 
water  mellowed  the  view,  or  the  bold  rocks  thrust  their 
black  and  naked  heads  above  the  undulating  outline  of 
the  mountain  ranges.  In  its  front  might  be  seen  the 
scattered  sentinels,  who  held  a  weary  watch  against  their 
numerous  foes;  and  within  the  walls  themselves,  the 
travelers  looked  down  upon  men  still  drowsy  with  a  night 
of  vigilance.  Towards  the  southeast,  but  in  immediate 
contact  with  the  fort,  was  an  intrenched  camp,  posted  on 
a  rocky  eminence,  that  would  have  been  far  more  eligible 
for  the  work  itself,  in  which  Hawkeye  pointed  out  the 
presence  of  those  auxiliary  regiments  that  had  so  re 
cently  left  the  Hudson  in  their  company.  From  the 
woods,  a  little  farther  to  the  south,  rose  numerous  dark 
and  lurid  smokes,  that  were  easily  to  be  distinguished 
from  the  purer  exhalations  of  the  springs,  and  which 
the  scout  also  showed  to  Heyward,  as  evidences  that  the 
enemy  lay  in  force  in  that  direction. 

But  the  spectacle  which  most  concerned  the  young 
soldier  was  on  the  western  bank  of  the  lake,  though  quite 
near  to  its  southern  termination.  On  a  strip  of  land, 
which  appeared,  from  his  stand,  too  narrow  to  contain 
such  an  army,  but  which,  in  truth,  extended  many  hun 
dreds  of  yards  from  the  shores  of  the  Horican  to  the 
base  of  the  mountain,  were  to  be  seen  the  white  tents 
and  military  engines  of  an  encampment  of  ten  thousand 
men.  Batteries  were  already  thrown  up  in  their  front, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  203 

and  even  while  the  spectators  above  them  were  looking 
down,  with  such  different  emotions,  on  a  scene  which 
lay  like  a  map  beneath  their  feet,  the  roar  of  artillery 
rose  from  the  valley,  and  passed  off  in  thundering  echoes, 
along  the  eastern  hills. 

"  Morning  is  just  touching  them  below,"  said  the  de 
liberate  and  musing  scout,  "  and  the  watchers  have  a 
mind  to  wake  up  the  sleepers  by  the  sound  of  cannon. 
We  are  a  few  hours  too  late !  Montcalm  has  already 
filled  the  woods  with  his  accursed  Iroquois." 

11  The  place  is,  indeed,  invested,"  returned  Duncan, 
"  but  is  there  no  expedient  by  which  we  may  enter  ?  cap 
ture  in  the  works  would  be  far  preferable  to  falling  again 
into  the  hands  of  roving  Indians." 

"See!"  exclaimed  the  scout,  unconsciously  directing 
the  attention  of  Cora  to  the  quarters  of  her  own  father, 
"  how  that  shot  has  made  the  stones  fly  from  the  side  of 
the  commandant's  house !  Aye !  these  Frenchers  will  pull 
it  to  pieces  faster  than  it  was  put  together,  solid  and 
thick  though  it  be." 

"  Heyward,  I  sicken  at  the  sight  of  danger  that  I  can 
not  share,"  said  the  undaunted,  but  anxious  daughter. 
"  Let  us  go  to  Montcalm,  and  demand  admission :  he  dare 
not  deny  a  child  the  boon." 

"  You  would  scarce  find  the  tent  of  the  Frenchman 
with  the  hair  on  your  head,"  said  the  blunt  scout.  "  If 
I  had  but  one  of  the  thousand  boats  which  lie  empty 
along  that  shore,  it  might  be  done.  Ha !  here  will  soon 
be  an  end  of  the  firing,  for  yonder  comes  a  fog  that 
will  turn  day  to  night,  and  make  an  Indian  arrow  more 
dangerous  than  a  molded  cannon.  Now,  if  you  are  equal 
to  the  work,  and  will  follow,  I  will  make  a  push;  for  I 
long  to  get  down  into  that  camp,  if  it  be  only  to  scatter 


204  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

some  Mingo  dogs  that  I  see  lurking  in  the  skirts  of  yon 
der  thicket  of  birch." 

"  We  are  equal,"  said  Cora,  firmly :  "  on  such  an  er 
rand  we  will  follow  to  any  danger." 

The  scout  turned  to  her  with  a  smile  of  honest  and 
cordial  approbation  as  he  answered, — 

"  I  would  I  had  a  thousand  men,  of  brawny  limbs 
and  quick  eyes,  that  feared  death  as  little  as  you !  I'd 
send  them  jabbering  Frenchers  back  into  their  den  again, 
afore  the  week  was  ended,  howling  like  so  many  fettered 
hounds  or  hungry  wolves.  But  stir,"  he  added,  turning 
from  her  to  the  rest  of  the  party,  "  the  fog  comes  rolling 
down  so  fast,  we  shall  have  but  just  the  time  to  meet 
it  on  the  plain,  and  use  it  as  a  cover.  Remember,  if 
any  accident  should  befall  me,  to  keep  the  air  blow 
ing  on  your  left  cheeks — or  rather,  follow  the  Mohi 
cans;  they'd  scent  their  way,  be  it  in  day  or  be  it  at 
night." 

He  then  waved  his  hand  for  them  to  follow,  and  threw 
himself  down  the  steep  declivity,  with  free,  but  careful 
footsteps.  Heyward  assisted  the  sisters  to  descend,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  they  were  all  far  down  a  mountain 
whose  sides  they  had  climbed  with  so  much  toil  and 
pain. 

The  direction  taken  by  Hawkeye  soon  brought  the 
travelers  to  the  level  of  the  plain,  nearly  opposite  to  a 
sally-port  in  the  western  curtain  of  the  fort,  which  lay, 
itself,  at  the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  from  the  point 
where  he  halted  to  allow  Duncan  to  come  up  with  his 
charge.  In  their  eagerness,  and  favored  by  the  nature 
of  the  ground,  they  had  anticipated  the  fog,  which  was 
rolling  heavily  down  the  lake,  and  it  became  necessary 
to  pause,  until  the  mists  had  wrapped  the  camp  of  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  205 

enemy  in  their  fleecy  mantle.  The  Mohicans  profited  by 
the  delay,  to  steal  out  of  the  woods,  and  to  make  a  sur 
vey  of  surrounding  objects.  They  were  followed  at  a 
little  distance  by  the  scout,  with  a  view  to  profit  early 
by  their  report,  and  to  obtain  some  faint  knowledge  for 
himself  of  the  more  immediate  localities. 

In  a  very  few  moments  he  returned,  his  face  reddened 
with  vexation,  while  he  muttered  his  disappointment  in 
words  of  no  very  gentle  import. 

"  Here  has  the  cunning  Frenchman  been  posting  a 
picket  directly  in  our  path,"  he  said ;  "  redskins  and 
whites ;  and  we  shall  be  as  likely  to  fall  into  their  midst 
as  to  pass  them  in  the  fog !  " 

"  Cannot  we  make  a  circuit  to  avoid  the  danger," 
asked  Heyward,  "'  and  come  into  our  path  again  when  it 
is  passed?  " 

"  Who  that  once  "bends  from  the  line  of  his  march 
in  a  fog  can  tell  when  or  how  to  turn  to  find  it  again! 
The  mists  of  Horican  are  not  like  the  curls  from  a 
peace-pipe,  or  the  smoke  which  settles  above  a  mosquito 
fire." 

He  was  yet  speaking,  when  a  crashing  sound  was 
heard,  and  a  cannon-ball  entered  the  thicket,  striking  the 
body  of  a  sapling,  and  rebounding  to  the  earth,  its  force 
being  much  expended  by  previous  resistance.  The  In 
dians  followed  instantly  like  busy  attendants  on  the  ter 
rible  messenger,  and  Uncas  commenced  speaking  ear 
nestly  and  with  much  action,  in  the  Delaware  tongue. 

"  It  may  be  so,  lad,"  muttered  the  scout,  when  he  had 
ended ;  "  for  desperate  fevers  are  not  to  be  treated  like 
a  toothache.  Come,  then,  the  fog  is  shutting  in." 

"Stop!"  cried  Heyward;  "first  explain  your  expec 
tations." 


206  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Y 

Tis  soon  done,  and  a  small  hope  it  is ;  but  it  is  bet 
ter  than  nothing.  This  shot  that  you  see,"  added  the 
scout,  kicking^  the  harmless  iron  with  his  foot,  "has 
plowed  the  'arth  in  its  road  from  the  fort,  and  we  shall 
hunt  for  the  furrow  it  has  made,  when  all  other  signs 
may  fail.  No  more  words,  but  follow,  or  the  fog  may 
leave  us  in  the  middle  of  our  path,  a  mark  for  both 
armies  to  shoot  at." 

Heyward  perceiving  that,  in  fact,  a  crisis  had  arrived 
when  acts  were  more  required  than  words,  placed  him 
self  between  the  sisters,  and  drew  them  swiftly  for 
ward,  keeping  the  dim  figure  of  their  leader  in  his  eye. 
It  was  soon  apparent  that  Hawkeye  had  not  magnified 
the  power  of  the  fog,  for  before  they  had  proceeded 
twenty  yards,  it  was  difficult  for  the  different  individuals 
of  the  party  to  distinguish  each  other,  in  the  vapor. 

They  had  made  their  little  circuit'to  the  left,  and  were 
already  inclining  again  towards  the  right,  having,  as 
Heyward  thought,  got  over  nearly  half  the  distance  to 
the  friendly  works,  when  his  ears  were  saluted  with  the 
fierce  summons,  apparently  within  twenty  feet  of 
them,  of — 

"Qui  va  la?" 

"  Push  on !  "  whispered  the  scout,  once  more  bending 
to  the  left. 

"  Push  on !  "  repeated  Heyward ;  when  the  summons 
was  renewed  by  a  dozen  voices,  each  of  which  seemed 
charged  with  menace. 

"  C'est  moi,"  cried  Duncan,  dragging  rather  than  lead 
ing  those  he  supported,  swiftly  onward. 

"  Bete !— qui  ?— moi !  " 

"  Ami  de  la  France." 

"  Tu  m'as  plus  Tair  d'un  ennemi  de  la  France ;  arrete ! 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  207 

on  pardieu  je  te  ferai  ami  du  diable.  Non!  feu,  cama- 
rades,  feu !  " 

The  order  was  instantly  obeyed,  and  the  fog  was 
stirred  by  the  explosion  of  fifty  muskets.  Happily,  the 
aim  was  bad,  and  the  bullets  cut  the  air  in  a  direction 
a  little  different  from  that  taken  by  the  fugitives ;  though 
still  so  nigh  them,  that  to  the  unpractised  ears  of  David 
and  the  two  females,  it  appeared  as  if  they  whistled 
within  a  few  inches  of  the  organs.  The  outcry  was  re 
newed,  and  the  order,  not  only  to  fire  again,  but  to  pur 
sue,  was  too  plainly  audible.  When  Heyward  briefly 
explained  the  meaning  of  the  words  they  heard,  Hawk- 
eye  halted,  and  spoke  with  quick  decision  and  great 
firmness. 

"Let  us  deliver  our  fire,"  he  said;  "  they  will  believe 
it  a  sortie,  and  give  way,  or  they  will  wait  for  rein 
forcements." 

The  scheme  was  well  conceived,  but  failed  in  its  ef 
fect.  The  instant  the  French  heard  the  pieces,  it  seemed 
as  if  the  plain  was  alive  with  men,  muskets  rattling  along 
its  whole  extent,  from  the  shores  of  the  lake  to  the 
farthest  boundary  of  the  woods. 

"  We  shall  draw  their  entire  army  upon  us,  and  bring 
on  a  general  assault,"  said  Duncan :  "  lead  on,  my  friend, 
for  your  own  life,  and  ours." 

The  scout  seemed  willing  to  comply;  but,  in  the  hurry 
of  the  moment,  and  in  the  change  of  position,  he  had 
lost  the  direction.  In  vain  he  turned  either  cheek  to 
wards  the  light  air;  they  felt  equally  cool.  In  this 
dilemma,  Uncas  lighted  on  the  furrow  of  the  cannon- 
ball,  where  it  had  cut  the  ground  in  three  adjacent 
ant-hills. 

"  Give  me  the  range !  "  said  Hawkeye,  bending  to  catch 


208  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

a  glimpse  of  the  direction,  and  then  instantly  moving 
onward. 

Cries,  oaths,  voices  calling  to  each  other,  and  the  re 
ports  of  muskets,  were  now  quick  and  incessant,  and, 
apparently,  on  every  side  of  them.  Suddenly,  a  strong 
glare  of  light  flashed  across  the  scene,  the  fog  rolled  up 
wards  in  thick  wreaths,  and  several  cannon  belched  across 
the  plain,  and  the  roar  was  thrown  heavily  back  from  the 
bellowing  echoes  of  the  mountain. 

:  'Tis  from  the  fort !  "  exclaimed  Hawkeye,  turning 
short  on  his  tracks ;  "  and  we,  like  stricken  fools,  were 
rushing  to  the  woods,  under  the  very  knives  of  the 
Maquas." 

The  instant  their  mistake  was  rectified,  the  whole 
party  retraced  the  error  with  the  utmost  diligence.  Dun 
can  willingly  relinquished  the  support  of  Cora  to  the 
arm  of  Uncas,  and  Cora  as  readily  accepted  the  welcome 
assistance.  Men,  hot  and  angry  in  pursuit,  were  evi 
dently  on  their  footsteps,  and  each  instant  threatened 
their  capture,  if  not  their  destruction. 

"  Point  de  quartier  aux  coquins !  "  cried  an  eager  pur 
suer,  who  seemed  to  direct  \he  operations  of  the  enemy. 

"  Stand  firm,  and  be  ready,  my  gallant  6oths !  "  sud 
denly  exclaimed  a  voice  above  them ;  "  wait  to  see  the 
enemy — fire  low,  and  sweep  the  glacis." 

"  Father !  father !  "  exclaimed  a  piercing  cry  from  out 
the  mist ;  "  it  is  I !  Alice !  thy  own  Elsie  !  spare,  O !  save 
your  daughters !  " 

"Hold!"  shouted  the  former  speaker,  in  the  awful 
tones  of  parental  agony,  the  sound  reaching  even  to  the 
woods,  and  rolling  back  in  solemn  echo.  'Tis  she !  God 
has  restored  me  my  children !  Throw  open  the  sally 
port;  to  the  field,  6oths,  to  the  field;  pull  not  a  trigger, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  209 

lest  ye  kill  my  lambs !  Drive  off  these  dogs  of  France 
with  your  steel." 

Duncan  heard  the  grating  of  the  rusty  hinges,  and 
darting  to  the  spot,  directed  by  the  sound,  he  met  a  long 
line  of  dark-red  warriors,  passing  swiftly  towards  the 
glacis.  He  knew  them  for  his  own  battalion  of  the 
royal  Americans,  and  flying  to  their  head,  soon  swept 
every  trace  of  his  pursuers  from  before  the  works. 

For  an  instant,  Cora  and  Alice  had  stood  trembling 
and  bewildered  by  this  unexpected  desertion ;  but,  before 
either  had  leisure  for  speech,  or  even  thought,  an  officer 
of  gigantic  frame,  whose  locks  were  bleached  with  years 
and  service,  but  whose  air  of  military  grandeur  had  been 
rather  softened  than  destroyed  by  time,  rushed  out  of 
the  body  of  the  mist,  and  folded  them  to  his  bosom,  while 
large  scalding  tears  rolled  down  his  pale  and  wrinkled 
cheeks,  and  he  exclaimed,  in  the  peculiar  accent  of 
Scotland, — 

"  For  this  I  thank  thee,  Lord !  Let  danger  come  as  it 
will,  thy  servant  is  now  prepared !  " 


CHAPTER 
XV. 


"Then  go  we  in,  to  know  his  embassy; 
Which  I  could,  with  a  ready  guess,  declare, 
Before  the  Frenchman  speak  a  word  of  it." 

King  Henry   V. 

A  FEW  succeeding  days  were  passed  amid  the  priva 
tions,  the  uproar,  and  the  dangers  of  the  siege, 
which  was  vigorously  pressed  by  a  power  against  whose 
approaches  Munro  possessed  no  competent  means  of  re 
sistance.  It  appeared  as  if  Webb,  with  his  army,  which 
lay  slumbering  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  had  utterly 
forgotten  the  strait  to  which  his  countrymen  were  re 
duced.  Montcalm  had  filled  the  woods  of  the  portage 
with  his  savages,  every  yell  and  whoop  from  whom  rang 
through  the  British  encampment,  chilling  the  hearts  of 
men  who  were  already  but  too  much  disposed  to  mag 
nify  the  danger. 

Not  so,  however,  with  the  besieged.  Animated  by  the 
words,  and  stimulated  by  the  examples,  of  their  leaders, 
they  had  found  their  courage,  and  maintained  their  an 
cient  reputation,  with  zeal  that  did  justice  to  the  stern 
character  of  their  commander.  As  if  satisfied  with  the 
toil  of  marching  through  the  wilderness  to  encounter  his 

210 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  211 

enemy,  the  French  general,  though  of  approved  skill, 
had  neglected  to  seize  the  adjacent  mountains;  whence 
the  besieged  might  have  been  exterminated  with  im 
punity,  and  which,  in  the  more  modern  warfare  of  the 
country,  would  not  have  been  neglected  for  a  single  hour. 
This  sort  of  contempt  for  eminences,  or  rather  dread  of 
the  labor  of  ascending  them,  might  have  been  termed  the 
•besetting  weakness  of  the  warfare  of  the  period.  It 
originated  in  the  simplicity  of  the  Indian  contests,  in 
which,  from  the  nature  of  the  combats,  and  the  density 
of  the  forests,  fortresses  were  rare,  and  artillery  next 
to  useless.  The  carelessness  engendered  by  these  usages 
descended  even  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  lost 
the  States  the  important  fortress  of  Ticonderoga,  open 
ing  a  way  for  the  army  of  Burgoyne  into  what  was  then 
the  bosom  of  the  country.  We  look  back  at  this  igno 
rance,  or  infatuation,,  whichever  it  may  be  called,  with 
wonder,  knowing  that  the  neglect  of  an  eminence,  whose 
difficulties,  like  those  of  Mount  Defiance,  have  been  so 
greatly  exaggerated,  would,  at  the  present  time,  prove 
fatal  to  the  reputation  of  the  engineer  who  had  planned 
the  works  at  their  base,  or  to  that  of  the  general  whose 
lot  it  was  to  defend  them. 

The  tourist,  the  valetudinarian,  or  the  amateur  of  the 
beauties  of  nature,  who,  in  the  train  of  his  four-in-hand, 
now  rolls  through  the  scenes  we  have  attempted  to  de 
scribe,  in  quest  of  information,  health,  or  pleasure,  or 
.floats  steadily  towards  his  object  on  those  artificial  wa 
ters  which  have  sprung  up  under  the  administration  of 
a  statesman  l  who  has  dared  to  stake  his  political  char 
acter  on  the  hazardous  issue,  is  not  to  suppose  that  his 

1  Evidently  the  late  De  Witt  Clinton,  who  died  governor  of 
New  York  in  1828. 


212  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

ancestors  traversed  those  hills,  or  struggled  with  the 
same  currents  with  equal  facility.  The  transportation  of 
a  single  heavy  gun  was  often  considered  equal  to  a  vic 
tory  gained;  if,  happily,  the  difficulties  of  the  passage  had 
not  so  far  separated  it  from  its  necessary  concomitant, 
the  ammunition,  as  to  render  it  no  more  than  an  useless 
tube  of  unwieldy  iron. 

The  evils  of  this  state  of  things  pressed  heavily  on  the 
fortunes  of  the  resolute  Scotsman  who  now  defended 
William  Henry.  Though  his  adversary  neglected  the 
hills,  he  had  planted  his  batteries  with  judgment  on  the 
plain,  and  caused  them  to  be  served  with  vigor  and  skill. 
Against  this  assault,  the  besieged  could  only  oppose  the, 
imperfect  and  hasty  preparations  of  a  fortress  in  th«w 
wilderness. 

It  was  in  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth  day  of  the  siege, 
and  the  fourth  of  his  own  service  in  it,  that  Major  Hey- 
ward  profited  by  a  parley  that  had  just  been  beaten,  by 
repairing  to  the  ramparts  of  one  of  the  water  bastions,  t<? 
breathe  the  cool  air  from  the  lake,  and  to  take  a  survey 
of  the  progress  of  the  siege.  He  was  alone,  if  the  soli 
tary  sentinel  who  paced  the  mound  be  excepted;  for  the. 
artillerists  had  hastened  also  to  profit  by  the  temporary 
suspension  of  their  arduous  duties.  The  evening  was 
delightfully  calm,  and  the  light  air  from  the  limpid  water 
fresh  and  soothing.  It  seemed  as  if,  with  the  termina 
tion  to  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the  plunging  of  shot, 
nature  had  also  seized  the  moment  to  assume  her  mildest 
and  most  captivating  form.  The  sun  poured  down  his 
parting  glory  on  the  scene,  without  the  oppression  of 
those  fierce  rays  that  belong  to  the  climate  and  the  sea 
son.  The  mountains  looked  green,  and  fresh,  and  lovely  ; 
tempered  with  the  milder  light,  or  softened  in  shadow, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  213 

as  thin  vapors  floated  between  them  and  the  sun.  The 
numerous  islands  rested  on  the  bosom  of  the  Horican, 
some  low  and  sunken,  as  if  imbedded  in  the  waters,  and 
others  appearing  to  hover  above  the  element,  in  little  hill 
ocks  of  green  velvet;  among  which  the  fishermen  of 
the  beleaguering  army  peacefully  rowed  their  skiffs,  or 
floated  at  rest  on  the  glassy  mirror,  in  quiet  pursuit  of 
their  employment. 

The  scene  was  at  once  animated  and  still.  All  that 
pertained  to  nature  was  sweet,  or  simply  grand ;  while 
those  parts  which  depended  on  the  temper  and  move 
ments  of  man  were  lively  and  playful. 

Two  little  spotless  flags  were  abroad,  the  one  on  a 
salient  angle  of  the  fort,  and  the  other  on  the  advanced 
battery  of  the  besiegers ;  emblems  of  the  truce  which  ex 
isted,  not  only  to  the  acts,  but  it  would  seem,  also,  to 
the  enmity  of  the  combatants. 

Behind  these,  again,  swung,  heavily  opening  and  clos 
ing  in  silken  folds,  the  rival  standards  of  England  and 
France. 

A  hundred  gay  and  thoughtless  young  Frenchmen  were 
drawing  a  net  to  the  pebbly  beach,  within  dangerous 
proximity  to  the  sullen  but  silent  cannon  of  the  fort, 
while  the  eastern  mountain  was  sending  back  the  loud 
shouts  and  gay  merriment  that  attended  their  sport. 
Some  were  rushing  eagerly  to  enjoy  the  aquatic  games 
of  the  lake,  and  others  were  already  toiling  their  way 
up  the  neighboring  hills,  with  the  restless  curiosity  of 
their  nation.  To  all  these  sports  and  pursuits,  those  of 
the  enemy  who  watched  the  besieged,  and  the  besieged 
themselves,  were,  however,  merely  the  idle,  though  sym 
pathizing  spectators.  Here  and  there  a  picket  had,  in 
deed,  raised  a  song,  or  mingled  in  a  dance,  which  had 


214  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

drawn  the  dusky  savages  around  them,  from  their  lairs 
in  the  forest.  In  short,  everything  wore  rather  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  day  of  pleasure,  than  of  an  hour  stolen 
from  the  dangers  and  toil  of  a  bloody  and  vindictive 
warfare. 

Duncan  had  stood  in  a  musing  attitude,  contemplating 
this  scene  a  few  minutes,  when  his  eyes  were  directed 
to  the  glacis  in  front  of  the  sally-port  already  mentioned, 
by  the  sounds  of  approaching  footsteps.  He  walked  to 
an  angle  of  the  bastion,  and  beheld  the  scout  advancing, 
under  the  custody  of  a  French  officer,  to  the  body  of 
the  fort.  The  countenance  of  Hawkeye  was  haggard 
and  careworn,  and  his  air  dejected,  as  though  he  felt 
the  deepest  degradation  at  having  fallen  into  the  power 
of  his  enemies.  He  was  without  his  favorite  weapon, 
and  his  arms  were  even  bound  behind  him  with  thongs, 
made  of  the  skin  of  a  deer.  The  arrival  of  flags,  to  cover 
the  messengers  of  summons,  had  occurred  so  often  of 
late,  that  when  Heyward  first  threw  his  careless  glance 
on  this  group,  he  expected  to  see  another  of  the  officers 
of  the  enemy,  charged  with  a  similar  office;  but  the  in 
stant  he  recognized  the  tall  person,  and  still  sturdy, 
though  downcast  features  of  his  friend  the  woodsman, 
he  started  with  surprise,  and  turned  to  descend  from  the 
bastion  into  the  bosom  of  the  work. 

The  sounds  of  other  voices,  however,  caught  his  at 
tention,  and  for  a  moment  caused  him  to  forget  his 
purpose.  At  the  inner  angle  of  the  mound  he  met  the 
sisters,  walking  along  the  parapet,  in  search,  like  him 
self,  of  air  and  relief  from  confinement.  They  had  not 
met  from  that  painful  moment  when  he  deserted  them 
on  the  plain,  only  to  assure  their  safety.  He  had  parted 
from  them  worn  with  care,  and  jaded  with  fatigue;  he 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  215 

now  saw  them  refreshed  and  blooming,  though  timid  and 
anxious.  Under  such  an  inducement,  it  will  cause  no 
surprise  that  the  young  man  lost  sight,  for  a  time,  of 
other  objects  in  order  to  address  them.  He  was,  how 
ever,  anticipated  by  the  voice  of  the  ingenuous  and  youth 
ful  Alice.  v 

"  Ah !  thou  truant !  thou  recreant  knight !  he  who  aban 
dons  his  damsels  in  the  very  lists !"  she  cried;  "here 
have  we  been  days,  nay,  ages,  expecting  you  at  our  feet, 
imploring  mercy  and  forgetfulness  of  your  craven  back 
sliding,  or,  I  should  rather  say,  back-running — for  verily 
you  fled  in  a  manner  that  no  stricken  deer,  as  our  worthy 
friend  the  scout  would  say,  could  equal !  " 

"  You  know  that  Alice  means  our  thanks  and  our 
blessings,"  added  the  graver  and  more  thoughtful  Cora. 
"  In  truth,  we  have  a  little  wondered  why  you  should  so 
rigidly  absent  yourself  from  a  place  where  the  gratitude 
of  the  daughters  might  receive  the  support  of  a  parent's 
thanks." 

"  Your  father  himself  could  tell  you,  that  though  ab 
sent  from  your  presence,  I  have  not  been  altogether  for 
getful  of  your  safety,"  returned  the  young  man;  "the 
mastery  of  yonder  village  of  huts,"  pointing  to  the 
neighboring  intrenched  camp,  "  has  been  keenly  dis 
puted;  and  he  who  holds  it  is  sure  to  be  possessed  of 
this  fort,  and  that  which  it  contains.  My  days  and  my 
nights  have  all  been  passed  there  since  we  separated,  be 
cause  I  thought  that  duty  called  me  thither.  But,"  he 
added  with  an  air  of  chagrin,  which  he  endeavored, 
though  unsuccessfully,  to  conceal,  "  had  I  been  aware 
that  what  I  then  believed  a  soldier's  conduct  could  so  be 
construed,  shame  would  have  been  added  to  the  list  of 


216  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Heyward ! — Duncan !  "  exclaimed  Alice,  bending  for 
ward  to  read  his  half-averted  countenance,  until  a  lock 
of  her  golden  hair  rested  on  her  flushed  cheek,  and  nearly 
concealed  the  tear  that  had  started  to  her  eye ;  "  did  I 
think  this  idle  tongue  of  mine  had  pained  you,  I  would 
silence  it  forever.  Cora  can  say,  if  Cora  would,  how 
justly  we  have  prized  your  services,  and  how  deep — I 
had  almost  said,  how  fervent — is  our  gratitude." 

"  And  will  Cora  attest  the  truth  of  this  ?  "  cried  Dun 
can,  suffering  the  cloud  to  be  chased  from  his  counte 
nance  by  a  smile  of  open  pleasure.  "  What  says  our 
graver  sister?  Will  she  find  an  excuse  for  the  neglect 
of  the  knight  in  the  duty  of  a  soldier  ?  " 

Cora  made  no  immediate  answer,  but  turned  her  face 
towards  the  water,  as  if  looking  on  the  sheet  of  the 
Horican.  When  she  did  bend  her  dark  eyes  on  the  young 
man,  they  were  yet  filled  with  an  expression  of  anguish 
that  at  once  drove  every  thought  but  that  of  kind  solici 
tude  from  his  mind. 

"  You  are  not  well,  dearest  Miss  Munro !  "  he  ex 
claimed  ;  "  we  have  trifled  while  you  are  in  suffering." 

"  Tis  nothing/'  she  answered,  refusing  his  offered 
support  with  feminine  reserve.  "That  I  cannot  see  the 
sunny  side  of  the  picture  of  life,  like  this  artless  but 
ardent  enthusiast,"  she  added,  laying  her  hand  lightly, 
but  affectionately,  on  the  arm  of  her  sister,  "  is  the  pen 
alty  of  experience,  and,  perhaps,  the  misfortune  of  my 
nature.  See,"  she  continued,  as  if  determined  to  shake 
off  infirmity,  in  a  sense  of  duty ;  "  look  around  you, 
Major  Heyward,  and  tell  me  what  a  prospect  is  this  for 
the  daughter  of  a  soldier  whose  greatest  happiness  is  his 
honor  and  his  military  renown." 

"  Neither   ought    nor    shall   be   tarnished   by   circum- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  217 

stances  over  which  he  has  had  no  control/'  Duncan 
warmly  replied.  "  But  your  words  recall  me  to  my  own 
duty.  I  go  now  to  your  gallant  father,  to  hear  his  de 
termination  in  matters  of  the  last  moment  to  the  defense. 
God  bless  you  in  every  fortune,  noble — Cora — I  may  and 
must  call  you."  She  frankly  gave  him  her  hand,  though 
her  lip  quivered;  and  her  cheeks  gradually  became  of 
an  ashy  paleness.  "  In  every  fortune,  I  know  you  will 
be  an  ornament  and  honor  to  your  sex.  Alice,  adieu  "- 
his  tone  changed  from  admiration  to  tenderness — "  adieu, 
Alice ;  we  shall  soon  meet  again ;  as  conquerors,  I  trust, 
and  amid  rejoicings !  " 

Without  waiting  for  an  answer  from  either,  the  young 
man  threw  himself  down  the  grassy  steps  of  the  bastion, 
and  moving  rapidly  across  the  parade,  he  was  quick1y 
in  the  presence  of  their  father.  Munro  was  pacing  his 
narrow  apartment  with  a  disturbed  air  and  gigantic 
strides  as  Duncan  entered. 

"  You  have  anticipated  my  wishes,  Major  Heyward," 
he  said ;  "  I  was  about  to  request  this  favor." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  see,  sir,  that  the  messenger  I  so 
warmly  recommended  has  returned  in  custody  of  the 
French !  I  hope  there  is  no  reason  to  distrust  his 
fidelity?" 

"  The  fidelity  of  '  The  Long  Rifle  '  is  well  known  to 
me,"  returned  Munro,  "  and  is  above  suspicion ;  though 
his  usual  good  fortune  seems,  at  last,  to  have  failed. 
Montcalm  has  got  him,  and  with  the  accursed  politeness 
of  his. nation,  he  has  sent  him  in  with  a  doleful  tale,  of 
'  knowing  how  I  valued  the  fellow,  he  could  not  think  of 
retaining  him/  A  Jesuitical  way,  that,  Major  Duncan 
Heyward,  of  telling  a  man  of  his  misfortunes !  " 

"  But  the  general  and  his  succor  ?  " 


218  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Did  ye  look  to  the  south  as  ye  entered,  and  could  ye 
not  see  them  ?  "  said  the  old  soldier,  laughing  bitterly. 
"  Hoot !  hoot !  you're  an  impatient  boy,  sir,  and  cannot 
give  the  gentlemen  leisure  for  their  march !  " 

"  They  are  coming,  then  ?  The  scout  has  said  as 
much?" 

"  When?  and  by  what  path?  for  the  dunce  has  omitted 
to  tell  me  this.  There  is  a  letter,  it  would  seem,  too ; 
and  that  is  the  only  agreeable  part  of  the  matter.  For 
the  customary  attentions  of  your  Marquis  of  Montcalm — 
I  warrant  me,  Duncan,  that  he  of  Lothian  would  buy 
a  dozen  such  marquisates — but,  if  the  news  of  the  let 
ter  were  bad,  the  gentility  of  this  French  monsieur  would 
certainly  compel  him  to  let  us  know  it." 

"  He  keeps  the  letter,  then,  while  he  releases  the  mes 
senger  !  " 

"  Aye,  that  does  he,  and  all  for  the  sake  of  what  you 
call  your  '  bonhommie'  I  would  venture,  if  the  truth 
was  known,  the  fellow's  grandfather  taught  the  noble 
science  of  dancing." 

"  But  what  says  the  scout?  he  has  eyes  and  ears,  and 
a  tongue :  what  verbal  report  does  he  make  ?  " 

<l  Oh !  sir,  he  is  not  wanting  in  natural  organs,  and 
he  is  free  to  tell  all  that  he  has  seen  and  heard.  The 
whole  amount  is  this:  there  is  a  fort  of  his  majesty's 
on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  called  Edward,  in  honor  of 
his  gracious  highness  of  York,  you'll  know ;  and  it  is 
well  filled  with  armed  men,  as  such  a  work  should  be." 

"  But  was  there  no  movement,  no  signs  of  any  inten 
tion  to  advance  to  our  relief?" 

'  There  were  the  morning  and  evening  parades ;  and 
when  one  of  the  provincial  loons — you'll  know,  Duncan, 
you're  half  a  Scotsman  yourself — when  one  of  them 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  219 

dropped  his  powder  over  his  porretch,  if  it  touched  the 
coals,  it  just  burnt!"  Then  suddenly  changing  his  bit- 
ter,  ironical  manner,  to  one  more  grave  and  thoughtful, 
he  continued,  "  and  yet  there  might,  and  must  be,  some 
thing  in  that  letter  which  it  would  be  well  to  know !  " 

"  Our  decision  should  be  speedy,"  said  Duncan,  gladly 
availing  himself  of  this  change  of  humor,  to  press  the 
more  important  objects  of  their  interview ;  "  I  cannot  con 
ceal  from  you,  sir,  that  the  camp  will  not  be  much  longer 
tenable ;  and  I  am  sorry  to  add,  that  things  appear  no 
better  in  the  fort;  more  than  half  the  guns  are  bursted." 

"  And  how  should  it  be  otherwise  ?  Some  were  fished 
from  the  bottom  of  the  lake;  some  have  been  rusting 
in  the  woods  since  the  discovery  of  the  country;  and 
some  were  never  guns  at  all — mere  privateersmen's  play 
things  !  Do  you  think,  sir,  you  can  have  Woolwich  War 
ren  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness,  three  thousand  miles 
from  Great  Britain!" 

'  The  walls  are  crumbling  about  our  ears,  and  provi 
sions  begin  to  fail  us,"  continued  Heyward,  without  re 
garding  this  new  burst  of  indignation ;  "  even  the  men 
show  signs  of  discontent  and  alarm." 

"  Major  Heyward,"  said  Munro,  turning  to  his  youth 
ful  associate  with  the  dignity  of  his  years  and  superior 
rank;  "I  should  have  served  his  majesty  for  half  a 
century,  and  earned  these  gray  hairs,  in  vain,  were  I 
ignorant  of  all  you  say,  and  of  the  pressing  nature  of 
our  circumstances ;  still,  there  is  everything  due  to  the 
honor  of  the  king's  arms  and  something  to  ourselves. 
While  there  is  hope  of  succor,  this  fortress  will  I  de 
fend,  though  it  be  to  be  done  with  pebbles  gathered  on 
the  lake  shore.  It  is  a  sight  of  the  letter,  therefore, 
that  we  want,  that  we  may  know  the  intentions  of  the 


22O  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

man  the  Earl  of  Loudon  has  left  among  us  as  his 
substitute." 

"  And  can  I  be  of  service  in  the  matter  ?  " 

*  Sir,  you  can;  the  Marquis  of  Montcalm  has,  in  ad 
dition  to  his  other  civilities,  invited  me  to  a  personal 
interview  between  the  works  and  his  own  camp ;  in  order, 
as  he  says,  to  impart  some  additional  information.  Now, 
I  think  it  would  not  be  wise  to  show  any  undue  solicitude 
to  meet  him,  and  I  would  employ  you,  an  officer  of  rank, 
as  my  substitute ;  for  it  would  but  ill  comport  with  the 
honor  of  Scotland  to  let  it  be  said  one  of  her  gentlemen 
was  outdone  in  civility  by  a  native  of  any  other  country 
on  earth." 

Without  assuming  the  supererogatory  task  of  entering 
into  a  discussion  of  the  comparative  merits  of  national 
courtesy,  Duncan  cheerfully  assented  to  supply  the  place 
of  the  veteran  in  the  approaching  interview.  A  long  and 
confidential  communication  now  succeeded,  during  which 
the  young  man  received  some  additional  insight  into 
his  duty,  from  the  experience  and  native  acuteness  of 
his  commander,  and  then  the  former  took  his  leave. 

As  Duncan  could  only  act  as  the  representative  of  the 
commandant  of  the  fort,  the  ceremonies  which  should 
have  accompanied  a  meeting  between  the  heads  of  the 
adverse  forces  were  of  course  dispensed  with.  The  truce 
still  existed,  and  with  a  roll  and  beat  of  the  drum,  and 
covered  by  a  little  white  flag,  Duncan  left  the  sally 
port,  within  ten  minutes  after  his  instructions  were  ended. 
He  was  received  by  the  French  officer  in  advance  with 
the  usual  formalities,  and  immediately  accompanied  to 
a  distant  marquee  of  tihe  renowned  soldier  who  led  the 
forces  of  France. 

The  general  of  the  enemy  received  the  youthful  mes- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  221 

senger,  surrounded  by  his  principal  officers,  and  by  a 
swarthy  band  of  the  native  chiefs,  who  had  followed  him 
to  the  field,  with  the  warriors  of  their  several  tribes. 
Heyward  paused  short,  when,  in  glancing  his  eyes  rap 
idly  over  the  dark  group  of  the  latter,  he  beheld  the 
malignant  countenance  of  Magua,  regarding  him  with 
the -calm  but  sullen  attention  which  marked  the  expres 
sion  of  that  subtle  savage.  A  slight  exclamation  of  sur 
prise  even  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  young  man;  but 
instantly  recollecting  his  errand,  and  the  presence  in 
which  he  stood,  he  suppressed  every  appearance  of  emo 
tion,  and  turned  to  the  hostile  leader,  who  had  already 
advanced  a  step  to  receive  him. 

The  Marquis  of  Montcalm  was,  at  the  period  of  which 
we  write,  in  the  flower  of  his  age,  and,  it  may  be  added, 
in  the  zenith  of  his  fortunes.  But,  even  in  that  enviable 
situation,  he  was  affable,  and  distinguished  as  much  for 
his  attention  to  the  forms  of  courtesy,  as  for  that  chival 
rous  courage  which,  only  two  short  years  afterwards, 
induced  him  to  throw  away  his  life  on  the  plains  of 
Abraham.  Duncan,  in  turning  his  eyes  from  the  malign 
expression  of  Magua,  suffered  them  to  rest  with  pleas 
ure  on  the  smiling  and  polished  features,  and  the  noble 
military  air,  of  the  French  general. 

"Monsieur,"  said  the  latter,  "j'ai  beaucoup  de  plaisir 
a — bah  ! — ou  est  cet  interprete  ?  " 

"  Je  crois,  monsieur,  qu'il  ne  sera  pas  necessaire," 
Heyward  modestly  replied;  "  je  parle  un  peu  Frangais." 

"  Ah!  j'en  suis  bien  aise,"  said  Montcalm,  taking  Dun 
can  familiarly  by  the  arm,  and  leading  him  deep  into 
the  marquee,  a  little  out  of  etPrshot;  "  je  deteste  ces 
fripons-la;  on  ne  sait  jamais  sur  quel  pie  on  est  avec 
eux.  Eh,  bien!  monsieur,"  he  continued,  still  speaking 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

in  French ;  "  though  I  should  have  been  proud  of  re 
ceiving  your  commandant,  I  am  very  happy  that  he  has 
seen  proper  to  employ  an  officer  so  distinguished,  and 
who,  I  am  sure,  is  so  amiable,  as  yourself." 

Duncan  bowed  low,  pleased  with  the  compliment,  in 
spite  of  a  most  heroic  determination  to  suffer  no  artifice 
to  allure  him  into  forgetfulness  of  the  interest  of .  his 
prince;  and  Montcalm,  after  a  pause  of  a  moment,  as 
if  to  collect  his  thoughts,  proceeded,— 

"  Your  commandant  is  a  brave  man,  and  well  qualified 
to  repel  my  assault.  Mais,  monsieur,,  is  it  not  time  to 
begin  to  take  more  counsel  of  humanity,  and  less  of  your 
courage?  The  one  as  strongly  characterizes  the  hero 
as  the  other." 

"  We  consider  the  qualities  as  inseparable,"  returned 
Duncan,  smiling;  "  but  while  we  find  in  the  vigor  of  your 
excellency  every  motive  to  stimulate  the  one,  we  can,  as 
yet,  see  no  particular  call  for  the  exercise  of  the  other." 

Montcalm,  in  his  turn,  slightly  bowed,  but  it  was  with 
the  air  of  a  man  too  practised  to  remember  the  language 
of  flattery.  After  musing  a  moment,  he  added, — 

"  It  is  possible  my  glasses  have  deceived  me,  and  that 
your  works  resist  our  cannon  better  than  I  had  supposed 
You  know  our  force  ?  " 

"  Our  accounts  vary,"  said  Duncan,  carelessly ;  "  the 
highest,  however,  has  not  exceeded  twenty  thousand 
men." 

The  Frenchman  bit  his  lip,  and  fastened  his  eyes 
keenly  on  the  other  as  if  to  read  his  thoughts ;  then,  with 
a  readiness  peculiar  to  himself,  he  continued,  as  if  as 
senting  to  the  truth  of  an  enumeration  which  quite 
doubled  his  army,— 

"  It  is  a  poor  compliment  to  the  vigilance  of  us  sol- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  223 

diers,  monsieur,  that,  do  what  we  will,  we  never  can 
conceal  our  numbers.  If  it  were  to  be  done  at  all,  one 
would  believe  it  might  succeed  in  these  woods.  Though 
you  think  it  too  soon  to  listen  to  the  calls  of  humanity," 
he  added,  smiling  archly,  "  I  may  be  permitted  to  be 
lieve  that  gallantry  is  not  forgotten  by  one  so  young 
as  yourself.  The  daughters  of  the  commandant,  I  learn, 
have  passed  into  the  fort  since  it  was  invested?" 

"  It  is  true,  monsieur ;  but,  so  far  from  weakening  our 
efforts,  they  set  us  an  example  of  courage  in  their  own 
fortitude.  Were  nothing  but  resolution  necessary  to  re 
pel  so  accomplished  a  soldier  as  M.  de  Montcalm,  I 
would  gladly  trust  the  defense  of  William  Henry  to  the 
elder  of  those  ladies." 

"  We  have  a  wise  ordinance  in  our  Salique  laws, 
which  says,  *  The  crown  of  France  shall  never  degrade 
the  lance  to  the  distaff,'  "  said  Montcalm,  dryly,  and  with 
a  little  hauteur;  but  instantly  adding,  with  his  former 
frank  and  easy  air,  "  as  all  the  nobler  qualities  are 
hereditary,  I  can  easily  credit  you;  though,  as  I  said 
before,  courage  has  its  limits,  and  humanity  must  not 
be  forgotten.  I  trust,  monsieur,  you  come  authorized 
to  treat  for  the  surrender  of  the  place  ?  " 

"  Has  your  excellency  found  our  defense  so  feeble  as 
to  believe  the  measure  necessary?" 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  the  defense  protracted  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  irritate  my  red  friends  there,"  con 
tinued  Montcalm,  glancing  his  eyes  at  the  group  of  grave 
and  attentive  Indians,  without  attending  to  the  other's 
question;  "'I  find  it  difficult,  even  now,  to  limit  them  to 
the  usages  of  war." 

Hey  ward  was  silent;  for  a  painful  recollection  of  the 
dangers  he  liad  so  recently  escaped  came  over  his  mind, 


224  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  recalled  the  images  of  those  defenseless  beings  who 
had  shared  in  all  his  sufferings. 

"  Ces  messieurs-la,"  said  Montcalm,  following  up  the 
advantage  which  he  conceived  he  had  gained,  "  are  most 
formidable  when  baffled :  and  it  is  unnecessary  to  tell  you 
with  what  difficulty  they  are  restrained  in  their  anger. 
Eh  bien,  monsieur !  shall  we  speak  of  the  terms  ?  " 

"  I  fear  your  excellency  has  been  deceived  as  to  the 
strength  of  William  Henry,  and  tlTe  resources  of  its 
garrison !  " 

"  I  have  not  sat  down  before  Quebec,  but  an  earthen 
work,  that  is  defended  by  twenty-three  hundred  gallant 
men,"  was  the  laconic  reply. 

"  Our  mounds  are  earthen,  certainly — nor  are  they 
seated  on  the  rocks  of  Cape  Diamond;  but  they  stand 
on  that  shore  which  proved  so  destructive  to  Dieskau 
and  his  army.  There  is  also  a  powerful  force  within 
a  few  hours'  march  of  us,  which  we  account  upon  as  part 
of  our  means." 

"  Some  six  or  eight  thousand  men,"  returned  Mont- 
calm,  with  much  apparent  indifference,  "  whom  their 
leader  wisely  judges  to  be  safer  in  their  works  than  in 
the  field." 

It  was  now  Heyward's  turn  to  bite  his  lip  with  vexa 
tion,  as  the  other  so  coolly  alluded  to  a  force  which 
the  young  man  knew  to  be  overrated.  Both  mused  a 
little  while  in  silence,  when  Montcalm  renewed  the  con 
versation,  in  a  way  that  showed  he  believed  the  visit  of  his 
guest  was  solely  to  propose  terms  of  capitulation.  On 
the  other  hand,  Heyward  began  to  throw  sundry  induce 
ments  in  the  way  of  the  French  general,  to  betray  the 
discoveries  he  had  made  through  the  intercepted  letter. 
The  artifice  of  neither,  however,  succeeded;  and  after 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  225 

a  protracted  and  fruitless  interview,,  Duncan  took  his 
leave,  favorably  impressed  with  an  opinion  of  the  cour 
tesy  and  talents  of  the  enemy's  captain,  but  as  ignorant 
of  what  he  came  to  learn  as  when  he  arrived.  Montcalm 
followed  him  as  far  as  the  entrance  of  the  marquee,  re 
newing  his  invitations  to  the  commandant  of  the  fort  to 
give  him  an  immediate  meeting  in  the  open  ground,  be 
tween  the  two  armies. 

There  they  separated,  and  Duncan  returned  to  the  ad 
vanced  post  of  the  French,  accompanied  as  before ; 
whence  he  instantly  proceeded  to  the  fort,  and  to  the 
quarters  of  his  own  commander. 


CHAPTER 
XVI.  & 

"  Edg. — Before  you  fight  the  battle,  ope  this  letter." 

King  Lear. 

MAJOR  HEYWARD  found  Munro  attended  only 
by  his  daughters.  Alice  sat  upon  his  knee,  part 
ing  the  gray  hairs  on  the  forehead  of  the  old  man  with 
her  delicate  fingers ;  and,  whenever  he  affected  to  frown 
on  her  trifling,  appeasing  his  assumed  anger  by  pressing 
her  ruby  lips  fondly  on  his  wrinkled  brow.  Cora  was 
seated  nigh  them,  a  calm  and  amused  looker-on ;  regard 
ing  the  wayward  movements  of  her  more  youthful  sister, 
with  that  species  of  maternal  fondness  which  character 
ized  her  love  for  Alice.  Not  only  the  dangers  through 
which  they  had  passed,  but  those  which  still  impended 
above  them,  appeared  to  be  momentarily  forgotten,  in 
the  soothing  indulgence  of  such  a  family  meeting.  It 
seemed  as  if  they  had  profited  by  the  short  truce,  to  de 
vote  an  instant  to  the  purest  and  best  affections:  the 
daughters  forgetting  their  fears,  and  the  veteran  his 
cares,  in  the  security  of  the  moment.  Of  this  scene, 
Duncan,  who  in  his  eagerness  to  report  his  arrival  had 
entered  unannounced,  stood  many  moments  an  unob 
served  and  a  delighted  spectator.  .  But  the  quick  and 

226 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  227 

dancing  eyes  of  Alice  soon  caught  a  glimpse  of  his  figure 
reflected  from  a  glass,  and  she  sprang  blushing  from 
her  father's  knee,  exclaiming  aloud, — 

"  Major   Heyward !  " 

"What  of  the  lad?"  demanded  the  father;  "I  have 
sent  him  to  crack  a  little  with  the  Frenchman.  Ha !  sir, 
you  are  young,  and  you're  nimble!  Away  with  you,  ye 
baggage;  as  if  there  were  not  troubles  enough  for  a  sol 
dier,  without  having  his  camp  filled  with  such  prattling 
hussies  as  yourself !  " 

Alice  laughingly  followed  her  sister,  who  instantly  led 
the  way  from  an  apartment  where  she  perceived  their 
presence  was  no  longer  desirable.  Munro,  instead  of 
demanding  the  result  of  the  young  man's  mission,  paced 
the  room  for  a  few  moments,  with  his  hands  behind 
his  back,  and  his  head  inclined  towards  the  floor,  like 
a  man  lost  in  thought.  At  length  he  raised  his  eyes, 
glistening  with  a  father's  fondness,  and  exclaimed, — 

"  They  are  a  pair  of  excellent  girls,  Heyward,  and  such 
as  any  one  may  boast  of." 

"  You  are  not  now  to  learn  my  opinion  of  your  daugh 
ters,  Colonel  Munro." 

"  True,  lad,  true,"  interrupted  the  impatient  old  man ; 
"  you  were  about  opening  your  mind  more  fully  on  that 
matter  the  day  you  got  in ;  but  I  did  not  think  it  becom 
ing  in  an  old  soldier  to  be  talking  of  nuptial  blessings 
and  wedding  jokes  when  the  enemies  of  his  king  were 
likely  to  be  unbidden  guests  at  the  feast!  But  I  was 
wrong,  Duncan,  boy,  I  was  wrong  there ;  and  I  am  now 
ready  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say." 

"  Notwithstanding  the  pleasure  your  assurance  gives 
me,  dear  sir,  I  have  just  now  a  message  from  Mont- 
calm — " 


228  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Let  the  Frenchman  and  all  his  host  go  to  the  devil, 
sir !  "  exclaimed  the  hasty  veteran.  "  He  is  not  yet  mas 
ter  of  William  Henry,  nor  shall  he  ever  be,  provided 
Webb  proves  himself  the  man  he  should.  No,  sir !  thank 
Heaven,  we  are  not  yet  in  such  a  strait  that  it  can  be 
said  Munro  is  too  much  pressed  to  discharge  the  little 
domestic  duties  of  his  own  family.  Your  mother  was 
the  only  child  of  my  bosom  friend,  Duncan;  and  I'll  just 
give  you  a  hearing,  though  all  the  knights  of  St.  Louis 
were  in  a  body  at  the  sally-port,  with  the  French  saint 
at  their  head,  craving  to  speak  a  word  under  favor.  A 
pretty  degree  of  knighthood,  sir,  is  that  which  can  be 
bought  with  sugar-hogsheads !  and  then  your  two-penny 
marquisates !  The  thistle  is  the  order  for  dignity  and 
antiquity ;  the  veritable  nemo  me  impune  lacessit  of  chiv 
alry  !  Ye  had  ancestors  in  that  degree,  Duncan,  and  they 
were  an  ornament  to  the  nobles  of  Scotland." 

Heyward,  who  perceived  that  his  superior  took  a  ma 
licious  pleasure  in  exhibiting  his  contempt  for  the  mes 
sage  of  the  French  general,  was  fain  to  humor  a  spleen 
that  he  knew  would  be  short-lived;  he  therefore  replied 
with  as  much  indifference  as  he  could  assume  on  such 
a  subject, — 

"  My  request,  as  you  know,  sir,  went  so  far  as  to 
presume  to  the  honor  of  being  your  son." 

"  Aye,  boy,  you  found  words  to  make  yourself  very 
plainly  comprehended.  But,  let  me  ask  ye,  sir,  have  you 
been  as  intelligible  to  the  girl  ?  " 

"On  my  honor,  no,"  exclaimed  Duncan,  warmly; 
"  there  would  have  been  an  abuse  of  a  confTded  trust, 
had  I  taken  advantage  of  my  situation  for  such  a 
purpose." 

"  Your  notions  are  those  of  a  gentleman,  Major  Hey- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  229 

% 

ward,  and  well  enough  in  their  place.  But  Cora  Munro 
is  a  maiden  too  discreet,  and  of  a  mind  too  elevated  and 
improved,  to  need  the  guardianship  even  of  a  father." 

"  Cora !  " 

"  Aye — Cora !  we  are  talking  of  your  pretensions  to 
Miss  Munro,  are  we  not,  sir?" 

"  I — I — I  was  not  conscious  of  having  mentioned  her 
name,"  said  Duncan,  stammering. 

"  And  to  marry  whom,  then,  did  you  wish  my  con 
sent,  Major  Heyward? "  demanded  the  old  soldier,  erect 
ing  himself  in  the  dignity  of  offended  feeling. 

"  You  have  another,  and  not  less  lovely  child." 

"  Alice !  "  exclaimed  the  father,  in  an  astonishment 
equal  to  that  with  which  Duncap  had  just  repeated  the 
name  of  her  sister. 

"  Such  was  the  direction  of  my  wishes,  sir." 

The  young  man  awaited  in  silence  the  result  of  the 
extraordinary  effect  produced  by  a  communication, 
which,  as  it  now  appeared,  was  so  unexpected.  For  sev 
eral  minutes  Munro  paced  the  chamber  with  long  and 
rapid  strides,  his  rigid  features  working  convulsively, 
and  every  faculty  seemingly  absorbed  in  the  musings  of 
his  own  mind.  At  length,  he  paused  directly  in  front  of 
Heyward,  and  riveting  his  eyes  upon  those  of  the  other, 
he  said,  with  a  lip  that  quivered  violently, — 

"  Duncan  Heyward,  I  have  loved  you  for  the  sake  of 
him  whose  blood  is  in  your  veins ;  I  have  loved  you  for 
your  own  good  qualities;  and  I  have  loved  you,  because 
I  thought  you  would  contribute  to  the  happiness  of  my 
child.  But  all  this  love  would  turn  to  hatred,  were  I 
assured  that  what  I  so  much  apprehend  is  true." 

"  God  forbid  that  any  act  or  thought  of  mine  should 
lead  to  such  a  change !  "  exclaimed  the  young  man,  whose 


230  The  Last  of  the  Mohican^ 

eye  never  quailed  under  the  penetrating  look  it  encoun 
tered.  Without  adverting  to  the  impossibility  of  -  the 
other's  comprehending  those  feelings  which  were  hid 
in  his  own  bosom,  Munro  suffered  himself  to  be  ap 
peased  by  the  unaltered  countenance  he  met,  and  with 
a  voice  sensibly  softened,,  he  continued, — 

"  You  would  be  my  son,  Duncan,  and  you're  ignorant 
of  the  history  of  the  man  you  wish  to  call  your  father. 
Sit  ye  down,  young  man,  and  I  will  open  to  you  the 
wounds  of  a  seared  heart,  in  as  few  words  as  may  be 
suitable." 

By  this  time,  the  message  of  Montcalm  was  as  much 
forgotten  by  him  who  bore  it  as  by  the  man  for  whose 
ears  it  was  intended.  Each  drew  a  chair,  and  while  the 
veteran  communed  a  few  moments  with  his  own  thoughts, 
apparently  in  sadness,  the  youth  suppressed  his  impa 
tience  in  a  look  and  attitude  of  respectful  attention.  At 
length  the  former  spoke : — 

"  You'll  know,  already,  Major  Hey  ward,  that  my  fam 
ily  was  both  ancient  and  honorable/'  commenced  the 
Scotsman ;  "  though  it  might  not  altogether  be  endowed 
with  that  amount  of  wealth  that  should  correspond  with 
its  degree.  I  was,  maybe,  such  an  one  as  yourself  when 
I  plighted  my  faith  to  Alice  Graham,  the  only  child  of 
a  neighboring  laird  of  some  estate.  But  the  connection 
was  disagreeable  to  her  father,  on  more  accounts  than  my 
poverty.  I  did  therefore  what  an  honest  man  should — 
restored  the  maiden  her  troth,  and  departed  the  country 
in  the  service  of  my  king.  I  had  seen  many  regions, 
and  had  shed  much  blood  in  different  lands,  before  duty 
called  me  to  the  islands  of  the  West  Indies.  There  it 
was  my  lot  to  form  a  connection  with  one  who  in  time 
became  my  wife,  and  the  mother  of  Cora.  She  was  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  231 

daughter  of  a  gentleman  of  those  isles,  by  a  lady  whose 
misfortune  it  was,  if  you  will,"  said  the  old  man,  proudly, 
"  to  be  descended,  remotely,  from  that  unfortunate  class 
who  are  so  basely  enslaved  to  administer  to  the  wants 
of  a  luxurious  people.  Aye,  sir,  that  is  a  curse  entailed 
on  Scotland  by  her  unnatural  union  with  a  foreign  and 
trading  people.  But  could  I  find  a  man  among  them 
who  would  dare  to  reflect  on  my  child,  he  should  feel 
the  weight  of  a  father's  anger!  Ha!  Major  Heyward, 
you  are  yourself  born  at  the  south,  where  these  un 
fortunate  beings  are  considered  of  a  race  inferior  to 
your  own." 

4>  Tis  most  unfortunately  true,  sir/'  said  Duncan, -un 
able  any  longer  to  prevent  his  eyes  from  sinking  to  the 
floor  in  embarrassment. 

"  And  you  cast  it  on  my  child  as  a  reproach !  You 
scorn  to  mingle  the  blood  of  the  Heywards  with  one  so 
degraded— lovely  and  virtuous  though  she  be  ?  "  fiercely 
demanded  the  jealous  parent. 

"  Heaven  protect  me  from  a  prejudice  so  unworthy  of 
my  reason !  "  returned  Duncan,  at  the  same  time  con 
scious  of  such  a  feeling,  and  that  as  deeply  rooted  as  if 
it  had  been  ingrafted  in  his  nature.  "  The  sweetness, 
the  beauty,  the  witchery  of  your  younger  daughter, 
Colonel  Munro,  might  explain  my  motives,  without  im 
puting  to  me  this  injustice." 

"  Ye  are  right,  sir,"  returned  the  old  man,  again  chang 
ing  his  tones  to  those  of  gentleness,  or  rather  softness; 
"  the  girl  is  the  image  of  what  her  mother  was  at  her 
years,  and  before  she  had  become  acquainted  with  grief. 
When  death  deprived  me  of  my  wife  I  returned  to  Scot 
land,  enriched  by  the  marriage;  and  would  you  think 
it,  Duncan!  the  suffering  angel  had  remained  in  the 


232  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

heartless  state  of  celibacy  twenty  long  years,  and  that 
for  the  sake  of  a  man  who  could  forget  her!  She  did 
more,  sir;  she  overlooked  my  want  of  faith,  and  all 
difficulties  being  now  removed,  she  took  me  for  her 
husband." 

"  And  became  the  mother  of  Alice  ?  "  exclaimed  Dun 
can,  with  an  eagerness  that  might  have  proved  dangerous 
at  a  moment  when  the  thoughts  of  Munro  were  less  oc 
cupied  than  at  present. 

"  She  did,  indeed/'  said  the  old  man,  "  and  dearly 
did  she  pay  for  the  blessing  she  bestowed.  But  she  is 
a  saint  in  heaven,  sir;  and  it  ill  becomes  one  whose  foot 
rests  on  the  grave  to  mourn  a  lot  so  blessed.  I  had  her 
but  a  single  year,  though ;  a  short  term  of  happiness  for 
one  who  had  seen  her  youth  fade  in  hopeless  pining." 

There  was  something  so  commanding  in  the  distress 
of  the  old  man,  that  Heyward  did  not  dare  to  venture  a 
syllable  of  consolation.  Munro  sat  utterly  unconscious 
of  the  other's  presence,  his  features  exposed  and  work 
ing  with  the  anguish  of  his  regrets,  while  heavy  tears 
fell  from  his  eyes,  and  rolled  unheeded  from  his  cheeks 
to  the  floor.  At  length  he  moved,  as  if  suddenly  recov 
ering  his  recollection ;  when  he  arose,  and  taking  a  single 
turn  across  the  room,  he  approached  his  companion  with 
an  air  of  military  grandeur,  and  demanded,— 

"  Have  you  not,  Major  Heyward,  some  communica 
tion  that  I  should  hear  from  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm  ?  " 

Duncan  started,  in  his  turn,  and  immediately  com 
menced,  in  an  embarrassed  voice,  the  half-forgotten  mes 
sage.  It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  the  evasive,  though 
polite  manner,  with  which  the  French  general  had  eluded 
every  attempt  of  Heyward  to  worm  from  him  the  pur 
port  of  the  communication  he  had  proposed  making,  or 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  233 

on  the  decided,  though  still  polished  message,  by  which 
he  now  gave  his  enemy  to  understand,  that  unless  he 
chose  to  receive  it  in  person,  he  should  not  receive  it 
at  all.  As  Munro  listened  to  the  detail  of  Duncan,  the 
excited  feelings  of  the  father  gradually  gave  way  before 
the  obligations  of  his  station,  and  when  the  other  was 
done,  he  saw  before  him  nothing  but  the  veteran,  swell 
ing  with  the  wounded  feelings  of  a  soldier. 

"  You  have  said  enough,  Major  Heyward !  "  exclaimed 
the  angry  old  man :  "  enough  to  make  a  volume  of  com 
mentary  on  French  civility.  Here  has  this  gentleman  in 
vited  me  to  a  conference,  and  when  I  send  him  a  capable 
substitute,  for  ye're  all  that,  Duncan,  though  your  years 
are  but  few,  he  answers  me  with  a  riddle." 

"  He  may  have  thought  less  favorably  of  the  substi 
tute,  my  dear  sir ;  and  you  will  remember  that  the  invita 
tion,  which  he  now  repeats,  was  to  the  commandant  of 
the  works,  and  not  to  his  second." 

"  Well,  sir,  is  not  a  substitute  clothed  with  all  the 
power  and  dignity  of  him  who  grants  the  commission? 
He  wishes  to  confer  with  Munro!  Faith,  sir,  I  have 
much  inclination  to  indulge  the  man,  if  it  should  only 
be  to  let  him  behold  the  firm  countenance  we  maintain 
in  spite  of  his  numbers  and  his  summons.  There  might 
be  no  bad  policy  in  such  a  stroke,  young  man." 

Duncan,  who  believed  it  of  the  last  importance  that 
they  should  speedily  come  at  the  contents  of  the  letter 
borne  by  the  scout,  gladly  encouraged  this  idea. 

"  Without  doubt,  he  could  gather  no  confidence  by 
witnessing  our  indifference,"  he  said. 

"  You  never  said  truer  word.  I  could  wish,  sir,  that 
he  would  visit  the  works  in  open  day,  and  in  the  form 
of  a  storming  party :  that  is  the  least  failing  method  of 


234  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

proving  the  countenance  of  an  enemy,  and  would  be  far 
preferable  to  the  battering  system  he  has  chosen.  The 
beauty  and  manliness  of  warfare  has  been  much  de 
formed,  Major  Heyward,  by  the  arts  of  your  Monsieur 
Vauban.  Our  ancestors  were  far  above  such  scientific 
cowardice !  " 

"  It  may  be  very  true,  sir;  but  we  are  now  obliged  to 
repel  art  by  art.  What  is  your  pleasure  in  the  matter 
of  the  interview  ?  " 

"  I  will  meet  the  Frenchman,  and  that  without  fear  or 
delay;  promptly,  sir,  as  becomes  a  servant  of  my  royal 
master.  Go,  Major  Heyward,  and  give  them  a  flourish 
of  the  music ;  and  send  out  a  messenger  to  let  them  know 
who  is  coming.  We  will  follow  with  a  small  guard,  for 
such  respect  is  due  to  one  who  holds  the  honor  of  his 
king  in  keeping;  and  harkee,  Duncan,"  he  added,  in  a 
half-whisper,  though  they  were  alone,  "  it  may  be  pru 
dent  to  have  some  aid  at  hand,  in  case  there  should  be 
treachery  at  the  bottom  of  it  all." 

The  young  man  availed  himself  of  this  order  to  quit 
the  apartment;  and,  as  the  day  was  fast  coming  to  a 
close,  he  hastened,  without  delay,  to  make  the  necessary 
arrangements.  A  very  few  minutes  only  were  necessary 
to  parade  a  few  files,  and  to  despatch  an  orderly  with 
a  flag  to  announce  the  approach  of  the  commandant  of 
the  fort.  When  Duncan  had  done  both  these,  he  led 
the  guard  to  the  sally-port,  near  which  he  found  his  su 
perior  ready,  waiting  his  appearance.  As  soon  as  the 
usual  ceremonials  of  a  military  departure  were  observed, 
the  veteran  and  his  more  youthful  companion  left  the 
fortress,  attended  by  the  escort. 

They  had  proceeded  only  a  hundred  yards,  from  the 
works,  when  the  little  array  which  attended  the  French 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  235 

general  to  the  conference,  was  seen  issuing  from  the 
hollow  way,  which  formed  the  "bed  of  a  brook  that  ran 
between  the  batteries  of  the  besiegers  and  the  fort.  From 
the  moment  that  Munro  left  his  own  works  to  appear  in 
front  of  his  enemies,  his  air  had  been  grand,  and  his 
step  and  countenance  highly  military.  The  instant  he 
caught  a  glimpse  of  the  white  plume  that  waved  in  the 
hat  of  Montcalm,  his  eye  lighted,  and  age  no  longer  ap 
peared  to  possess  any  influence  over  his  vast  and  still 
muscular  person. 

"  Speak  to  the  boys  to  be  watchful,  sir/'  he  said,  in  an 
undertone,  to  Duncan;  "and  to  look  well  to  their  flints 
and  steel,  for  one  is  never  safe  with  a  servant  of  these 
Louis's ;  at  the  same  time,  we  will  show  them  the  front 
of  men  in  deep  security.  Ye'll  understand  me,  Major 
Heyward !  " 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  clamor  of  a  drum  from  the 
approaching  Frenchmen,  which  was  immediately  an 
swered,  when  each  party  pushed  an  orderly  in  advance, 
bearing  a  white  flag,  and  the  wary  Scotsman  halted,  with 
his  guard  close  at  his  back.  As  soon  as  this  slight  salu 
tation  had  passed,  Montcalm, moved  towards  them  with 
a  quick  but  graceful  step,  baring  his  head  to  the  veteran, 
and  dropping  his  spotless  plume  nearly  to  the  earth  in 
courtesy.  If  the  air  of  Munro  was  more  commanding 
and  manly,  it  wanted  both  the  ease  and  insinuating  polish 
of  that  of  the  Frenchman.  Neither  spoke  for  a  few  mo 
ments,  each  regarding  the  other  with  curious  and  inter 
ested  eyes.  Then,  as  became  his  superior  rank  and 
the  nature  of  the  interview,  Montcalm  broke  the  silence. 
After  uttering  the  usual  words  of  greeting,  he  turned 
to  Duncan,  and  continued  with  a  smile  of  recognition, 
speaking  always  in  French, — 


236  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  I  am  rejoiced,  monsieur,  that  you  have  given  us  the 
pleasure  of  your  company  on  this  occasion.  There  will 
be  no  necessity  to  employ  an  ordinary  interpreter;  for, 
in  your  hands,  I  feel  the  same  security  as  if  I  spoke  your 
language  myself." 

Duncan  acknowledged  the  compliment,  when  Mont- 
calm,  turning  to  his  guard,  which,  in  imitation  of  that 
of  their  enemies,  pressed  close  upon  him,  continued, — 

"  En  arriere,  mes  enfans — il  fait  chaud ;  retirez-vons 
un  peu." 

Before  Major  Heyward  would  imitate  this  proof  of 
confidence,  he  glanced  his  eyes  around  the  plain,  and 
beheld  with  uneasiness  the  numerous  dusky  groups  of 
savages,  who  looked  out  from  the  margin  of  the  sur 
rounding  woods,  curious  spectators  of  the  interview. 

"  Monsieur  de  Montcalm  will  readily  acknowledge  the 
difference  in  our  situation,"  he  said,  with  some  embar 
rassment,  pointing  at  the  same  time  towards  those  dan 
gerous  foes,  who  were  to  be  seen  in  almost  every  direc 
tion.  "  Were  we  to  dismiss  our  guard,  we  should  stand 
here  at  the  mercy  of  our  enemies." 

"  Monsieur,  you  have  the  plighted  faith  of  un  gentil- 
hotnme  Frangais,  for  your  safety,"  returned  Montcalm, 
laying  his  hand  impressively  on  his  heart ;  "  it  should 
suffice. " 

"  It  shall.  Fall  back/'  Duncan  added  to  the  officer 
who  led  the  escort ;  "  fall  back,  sir,  beyond  hearing,  and 
wait  for  orders." 

Munro  witnessed  this  movement  with  manifest  uneasi 
ness  ;  nor  did  he  fail  to  demand  an  instant  explanation. 

"Is  it  not  pur  interest,  sir,  to  betray  no  distrust?" 
retorted  Duncan.  "  Monsieur  de  Montcalm  pledges  his 
word  for  our  safety,  and  I  have  ordered  the  men  to  with- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  237 

draw  a  little,  in  order  to  prove  how  much  we  depend 
on  his  assurance." 

"  It  may  be  all  right,  sir,  but  I  have  no  overweening 
reliance  on  the  faith  of  these  marquesses,  or  marquis,  as 
they  call  themselves.  Their  patents  of  nobility  are  too 
common  to  be  certain  that  they  bear  the  seal  of  true 
honor." 

"  You  forget,  dear  sir,  that  we  confer  with  an  officer, 
distinguished  alike  in  Europe  and  America,  for  his  deeds. 
From  a  soldier  of  his  reputation  we  can  have  nothing 
to  apprehend." 

The  old  man  made  a  gesture  of  resignation,  though 
his  rigid  features  still  betrayed  his  obstinate  adherence 
to  a  distrust,  which  he  derived  from  a  sort  of  hereditary 
contempt  of  his  enemy,  rather  than  from  any  present 
signs  which  might  warrant  so  uncharitable  a  feeling. 
Montcalm  waited  patiently  until  this  little  dialogue  in 
demi-voice  was  ended,  when  he  drew  nigher,  and  opened 
the  subject  of  their  conference. 

"  I  have  solicited  this  interview  from  your  superior, 
monsieur,"  he  said,  "  because  I  believe  he  will  allow 
himself  to  be  persuaded  that  he  has  already  done  every 
thing  which  is  necessary  for  the  honor  of  his  prince,  and 
will  now  listen  to  the  admonitions  of  humanity.  I  will 
forever  bear  testimony  that  his  resistance  has  been  gal 
lant,  and  was  continued  as  long  as  there  was  hope." 

When  this  opening  was  translated  to  Munro,  he  an 
swered  with  dignity,  but  with  sufficient  courtesy, — 

"  However  I  may  prize  such  testimony  from  Monsieur 
Montcalm,  it  will  be  more  valuable  when  it  shall  be 
better  merited." 

The  French  general  smiled,  as  Duncan  gave  him  the 
purport  of  this  reply,  and  observed, — 


238  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  What  is  now  so  freely  accorded  to  approved  cour 
age,  may  be  refused  to  useless  obstinacy.  Monsieur 
would  wish  to  see  my  camp,  and  witness,  for  himself, 
our  numbers,  and  the  impossibility  of  his  resisting  them 
with  success?" 

"  I  know  that  the  king  of  France  is'  well  served,"  re 
turned  the  unmoved  Scotsman,  as  soon  as  Duncan  ended 
his  translation ;  "  but  my  own  royal  master  has  as  many 
and  as  faithful  troops." 

"  Though  not  at  hand,  fortunately  for  us,"  said  Mont- 
calm,  without  waiting,  in  his  ardor,  for  the  interpreter. 
1  There  is  a  destiny  in  war,  to  which  a  brave  man  knows 
how  to  submit,  with  the  same  courage  that  he  faces 
his  foe." 

"  Had  I  been  conscious  that  Monsieur  Montcalm  was 
master  of  the  English,  I  should  have  spared  myself  the 
trouble  of  so  awkward  a  translation,"  said  the  vexed 
Duncan,  dryly;  remembering  instantly  his  recent  by 
play  with  Munro. 

"  Your  pardon,  monsieur,"  rejoined  the  Frenchman, 
suffering  a  slight  color  to  appear,  on  his  dark  cheek. 
'  There  is  a  vast  difference  between  understanding  and 
speaking  a  foreign  tongue;  you  will,  therefore,  please 
to  assist  me  still."  Then  after  a  short  pause,  he  added, 
'  These  hills  afford  us  every  opportunity  of  reconnoiter- 
ing  your  works,  messieurs,  and  I  am  possibly  as  well 
acquainted  with  their  weak  condition  as  you  can  be 
yourselves." 

"  Ask  the  French  general  if  his  glasses  can  reach  to 
the  Hudson,"  said  Munro,  proudly;  "and  if  he  knows 
when  and  where  to  expect  the  army  of  Webb." 

"  Let  General  Webb  be  his  own  interpreter,"  returned 
the  politic  Montcalm,  suddenly  extending  an  open  letter 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  239 

towards  Munro,  as  he  spoke;  "you  will  there  learn, 
monsieur,  that  his  movements  are  not  likely  to  prove  em 
barrassing  to  my  army." 

The  veteran  seized  the  offered  paper,  without  waiting 
for  Duncan  to  translate  the  speech,  and  with  an  eager 
ness  that  betrayed  how  important  he  deemed  its  contents. 
As  his  eye  passed  hastily  over  the  words,  his  countenance 
changed  from  its  look  of  military  pride  to  one  of  deep 
chagrin :  his  lip  began  to  quiver ;  and,  suffering  the  paper 
to  fall  from  his  hand,  his  head  dropped  upon  his  chest, 
like  that  of  a  man  whose  hopes  were  withered  at  a  single 
blow.  Duncan  caught  the  letter  from  the  ground,  and 
without  apology  for  the  liberty  he  took,  he  read  at  a 
glance  its  cruel  purport.  Their  common  superior,  so 
far  from  encouraging  them  to  resist,  advised  a  speedy 
surrender,  urging  in  the  plainest  language,  as  a  reason, 
the  utter  impossibility  of  his  sending  a  single  man  to 
their  rescue. 

"  Here  is  no  deception !  "  exclaimed  Duncan,  examin 
ing  the  billet  both  inside  and  out;  "  this  is  the  signature 
of  Webb,  and  must  be  the  captured  letter." 

"  The  man  has  betrayed  me !  "  Munro  at  length  bit 
terly  exclaimed :  "  he  has  brought  dishonor  to  the  door 
of  one  where  disgrace  was  never  before  known  to  dwell, 
and  shame  has  he  heaped  heavily  on  my  gray  hairs." 

"  Say  not  so,"  cried  Duncan ;  "  we  are  yet  masters  of 
the  fort  and  of  our  honor.  Let  us  then  sell  our  lives 
at  such  a  rate  as  shall  make  our  enemies  believe  the 
purchase  too  dear." 

"  Boy,  I  thank  thee,"  exclaimed  the  old  man,  rousing 
himself  from  his  stupor ;  "  you  have,  for  once,  reminded 
Munro  of  his  duty.  We  will  go  back,  and  dig  our  graves 
behind  those  ramparts." 


240  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Messieurs,"  said  Montcalm,  advancing  towards  them 
a  step,  in  generous  interest,  "  you  little  know  Louis  de 
St.  Veran,  if  you  believe  him  capable  of  profiting  by  this 
letter  to  humble  brave  men,  or  to  build  up  a  dishonest 
reputation  for  himself.  Listen  to  my  terms  before  you 
leave  me." 

"  What  says  the  Frenchman  ?  "  demanded  the  veteran, 
sternly ;  "  does  he  make  a  merit  of  having  captured  a 
scout,  with  a  note  from  headquarters?  Sir,  he  had  bet 
ter  raise  this  siege,  to  go  and  sit  down  before  Edward 
if  he  wishes  to  frighten  his  enemy  with  words." 

Duncan  explained  the  other's  meaning. 

"  Monsieur  de  Montcalm,  we  will  hear  you,"  the  vet 
eran  added,  more  calmly,  as  Duncan  ended. 

"  To  retain  the  fort  is  now  impossible,"  said  his  liberal 
enemy ;  "  it  is  necessary  to  the  interests  of  my  master 
that  it  should  be  destroyed;  but,  as  for  yourselves,  and 
your  brave  comrades,  there  is  no  privilege  dear  to  a 
soldier  that  shall  be  denied." 

"Our  colors?"  demanded  Heyward. 

"  Carry  them  to  England,  and  show  them  to  your 
king." 

"Our  arms?" 

"  Keep  them ;  none  can  use  them  better." 

"  Our  march ;  the  surrender  of  the  place  ?  " 

"  Shall  all  be  done  in  a  way  most  honorable  to  your 
selves." 

Duncan  now  turned  to  explain  these  proposals  to  his 
commander,  who  heard  him  with  amazement,  and  a  sensi 
bility  that  was  deeply  touched  by  such  unusual  and  ex- 
expected  generosity. 

"  Go  you,  Duncan,"  he  said ;  "  go  with  this  marquess, 
as  indeed  marquess  he  should  be ;  go  to  his  marquee  and 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  241 

arrange  it  all.  I  have  lived  to  see  two  things  in  my  old 
'age,  that  never  did  I  expect  to  behold.  An  Englishman 
afraid  to  support  a  friend,  and  a  Frenchman  too  honest 
to  profit  by  his  advantage." 

So  saying,  the  veteran  again  dropped  his  head  to  his 
chest,  and  returned  slowly  towards  the  fort,  exhibiting, 
by  the  dejection  of  his  air,  to  the  anxious  garrison,  a 
harbinger  of  evil  tidings. 

From  the  shock  of  this  unexpected  blow  the  haughty 
feelings  of  Munro  never  recovered;  but  from  that  mo 
ment  there  commenced  a  change  in  his  determined  char 
acter,  which  accompanied  him  to  a  speedy  grave.  Dun 
can  remained  to  settle  the  terms  of  the  capitulation.  He 
was  seen  to  re-enter  the  works  during  the  first  watches 
of  the  night,  and  immediately  after  a  private  conference 
with  the  commandant,  to  leave  them  again.  It  was  then 
openly  announced,  that  hostilities  must  cease — Munro 
having  signed  a  treaty,  by  which  the  place  was  to  be 
yielded  to  the  enemy,  with  the  morning;  the  garrison  to 
retain  their  arms,  their  colors,  and  their  baggage,  and 
consequently,  according  to  military  opinion,  their  honor. 


CHAPTER 
XVII.    «    & 


"Weave  we  the  woof.     The  thread  is  spun. 
The  web  is  wove.     The  work  is  done." 

GRAY. 

THE  hostile  armies,  which  lay  in  the  wilds  of  the 
Horican,  passed  the  night  of  the  Qth  of  August, 
1757,  much  in  the  manner  they  would  had  they  encoun 
tered  on  the  fairest  fields  of  Europe.  While  the  con 
quered  were  still,  sullen,  and  dejected,  the  victors  tri 
umphed.  But  there  are  limits  alike  to  grief  and  joy; 
and  long  before  the  watches  of  the  morning  came,  the 
stillness  of  those  boundless  woods  was  only  broken  by 
a  gay  call  from  some  exulting  young  Frenchman  of  the 
advanced  pickets,  or  a  menacing  challenge  from  the  fort, 
which  sternly  forbade  the  approach  of  any  hostile  foot 
steps  before  the  stipulated  moment.  Even  these  occa 
sional  threatening  sounds  ceased  to  be  heard  in  that  dull 
hour  which  precedes  the  day,  at  which  period  a  listener 
might  have  sought  in  vain  any  evidence  of  the  presence 
of  those  armed  powers  that  then  slumbered  on  the  shores 
of  the  "  holy  lake." 

It  was  during  these  moments  of  deep  silence,  that  the 
canvas  which  concealed  the  entrance  to  a  spacious  mar- 

242 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  243 

quee  in  the  French  encampment  was  shoved  aside,  and 
a  man  issued  from  beneath  the  drapery  into  the  open  air. 
He  was  enveloped  in  a  cloak  that  might  have  been  in 
tended  as  a  protection  from  the  chilling  damps  of  the 
woods,  but  which  served  equally  well  as  a  mantle,  to 
conceal  his  person.  He  was  permitted  to  pass  the  grena 
dier,  who  watched  over  the  slumbers  of  the  French  com 
mander,  without  interruption,  the  man  making  the  usual 
salute  which  betokens  military  deference,  as  the  other 
passed  swiftly  through  the  little  city  of  tents,  in  the  di 
rection  of  William  Henry.  Whenever  this  unknown 
individual  encountered  one  of  the  numberless  sentinels 
who  crossed  his  path,  his  answer  was  prompt,  and  as 
it  appeared  satisfactory ;  for  he  was  uniformly  allowed  to 
proceed,  without  further  interrogation. 

With  the  exception  of  such  repeated,  but  brief  inter 
ruptions,  he  had  moved,  silently,  from  the  center  of  the 
camp,  to  its  most  advanced  outposts,  when  he  drew  nigh 
the  soldier  who  held  his  watch  nearest  to  the  works  of 
the  enemy.  As  he  approached  he  was  received  with  the 
usual  challenge, — 

"  Qui  vive  ?  " 

"  France,"  was  the  reply. 

"Le  mot  d'ordre?" 

"  La  victoire,"  said  the  other,  drawing  so  nigh  as  to 
be  heard  in  a  loud  whisper. 

"  C'est  bien,"  returned  the  sentinel,  throwing  his 
musket  from  the  charge  to  his  shoulder ;  "  vous  vous 
promenez  bien  matin,  monsieur !  " 

"  II  est  necessaire  d'etre  vigilant,  mon  enfant,"  the 
other  observed,  dropping  a  fold  of  his  cloak,  and  looking 
the  soldier  close  in  the  face,  as  he  passed  him,  still  con 
tinuing  his  way  towards  the  British  fortification.  The 


244  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

man  started;  his  arms  rattled  heavily,  as  he  threw  them 
forward,  in  the  lowest  and  most  respectful  salute;  and 
when  he  had  again  recovered  his  piece,  he  turned  to  walk 
his  post,  muttering  between  his  teeth, — 

"II  faut  etre  vigilant,  en  verite !  je  crois  que  nous 
avons  la  un  caporal  qui  ne  dort  jamais!  " 

The  officer  proceeded,  without  affecting  to  hear  the 
words  which  escaped  the  sentinel  in  his  surprise ;  nor  did 
he  again  pause  until  he  had  reached  the  low  strand,  and 
in  a  somewhat  dangerous  vicinity  to  the  western  water 
bastion  of  the  fort.  The  light  of  an  obscure  moon  was 
just  sufficient  to  render  objects,  though  dim,  perceptible 
in  their  outlines.  He,  therefore,  took  the  precaution  to 
place  himself  against  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  where  he  leaned 
for  many  minutes,  and  seemed  to  contemplate  the  dark 
and  silent  mounds  of  the  English  works  in  profound  at 
tention.  His  gaze  at  the  ramparts  was  not  that  of  a 
curious  or  idle  spectator;  but  his  looks  wandered  from 
point  to  point,  denoting  his  knowledge  of  military  usages, 
and  betraying  that  his  search  was  not  unaccompanied  by 
distrust.  At  length  he  appeared  satisfied ;  and  having 
cast  his  eyes  impatiently  upward  toward  the  summit  of 
the  eastern  mountain,  as  if  anticipating  the  approach  of 
the  morning,  he  was  in  the  act  of  turning  on  his  foot 
steps,  when  a  light  sound  on  the  nearest  angle  of  the  bas 
tion  caught  his  ear,  and  induced  him  to  remain. 

Just  then  a  figure  was  seen  to  approach  the  edge  of  the 
rampart,  where  it  stood,  apparently  contemplating  in  its 
turn  the  distant  tents  of  the  French  encampment.  Its 
head  was  then  turned  towards  the  east,  as  though  equally 
anxious  for  the  appearance  of  light,  when  the  form 
leaned  against  the  mound,  and  seemed  to  gaze  upon  the 
glassy  expanse  of  the  waters,  which,  like  a  submarine 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  245 

firmament,  glittered  with  its  thousand  mimic  stars.  The 
melancholy  air,  the  hour,  together  with  the  vast  frame 
of  the  man  who  thus  leaned,  in  musing,,  against  the  Eng 
lish  ramparts,  left  no  doubt  as  to  his  person,  in  the  mind 
of  his  observant  spectator.  Delicacy,  no  less  than  pru 
dence,  now  urged  him  to  retire;  and  he  had  moved  cau 
tiously  round  the  body  of  the  tree  for  that  purpose, 
when  another  sound  drew  his  attention,  and  once  more 
arrested  his  footsteps.  It  was  a  low  and  almost  inaudible 
movement  of  the  water,  and  was  succeeded  by  a  grating 
of  pebbles  one  against  the  other.  In  a  moment  he  saw 
a  dark  form  rise,  as  it  were  out  of  the  lake,  and  steal 
without  further  noise  to  the  land,  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  place  where  he  himself  stood.  A  rifle  next  slowly 
rose  between  his  eyes  and  the  watery  mirror;  but  before 
it  could  be  discharged  his  own  hand  was  on  the  lock. 

"  Hugh !  "  exclaimed  the  savage,  whose  treacherous 
aim  was  so  singularly  and  so  unexpectedly  interrupted. 

Without  making  any  reply,  the  French  officer  laid  his 
hand  on  the  shoulder  of  the  Indian,  and  led  him  in  pro 
found  silence  to  a  distance  from  the  spot,  where  their 
subsequent  dialogue  might  have  proved  dangerous,  and 
where  it  seemed  that  one  of  them,  at  least,  sought  a  vic 
tim.  Then,  throwing  open  his  cloak,  so  as  to  expose  his 
uniform  and  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  which  was  suspended 
at  his  breast,-  Montcalm  sternly  demanded, — 

"  What  means  this !  Does  not  my  son  know  that  the 
hatchet  is  buried  between  the  English  and  his  Canadian 
Father?" 

"  What  can  the  Hurons  do  ? "  returned  the  savage, 
speaking  also,  though  imperfectly,  in  the  French  lan 
guage.  "  Not  a  warrior  has  a  scalp,  and  the  pale-faces 
make  friends !  " 


246  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Ha !  Le  Renard  Subtil !  Methinks  this  is  an  excess 
of  zeal  for  a  friend  who  was  so  late  an  enemy !  How 
many  suns  have  set  since  Le  Renard  struck  the  war- 
post  of  the  English  ?  " 

"  Where  is  that  sun  i  "  demanded  the  sullen  savage. 
"Behind  the  hill;  and  it  is  dark  and  cold.  But  when 
he  comes  again,  it  will  be  bright  and  warm.  Le  Subtil 
is  the  sun  of  his  tribe.  There  have  been  clouds,  and 
many  mountains  between  him  and  his  nation;  but  now 
he  shines,  and  it  is  a  clear  sky !  " 

"  That  Le  Renard  has  power  with  his  people,  I  well 
know,"  said  Montcalm ;  "  for  yesterday  he  hunted  for 
their  scalps,  and  to-day  they  hear  him  at  the  council- 
fire." 

"  Magua  is  a  great  chief." 

"  Let  him  prove  it,  by  teaching  his  nation  how  to  con 
duct  itself  towards  our  new  friends." 

"  Why  did  the  chief  of  the  Canadas  bring  his  young 
men  into  the  woods,  and  fire  his  cannon  at  the  earthen 
house?"  demanded  the  subtle  Indian. 

"  To  subdue  it.  My  master  owns  the  land,  and  your 
father  has  ordered  to  drive  off  these  English  squatters. 
They  have  consented  to  go,  and  now  he  calls  them 
enemies  no  longer." 

"  Tis  well.  Magua  took  the  hatchet  to  color  it  with 
blood.  It  is  now  bright;  when  it  is  red,  it  shall  be 
buried." 

"  But  Magua  is  pledged  not  to  sully  the  lilies  of 
France.  The  enemies  of  the  great  king  across  the  salt 
lake  are  his  enemies;  his  friends,  the  friends  of  the 
Hurons." 

"  Friends !  "  repeated  the  Indian,  in  scorn.  "  Let  his 
father  give  Magua  a  hand." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  247 

Montcalm,  who  felt  that  his  influence  over  the  warlike 
tribes  he  had  gathered  was  to  be  maintained  by  con 
cession  rather  than  by  power,  complied  reluctantly  with 
the  other's  request.  The  savage  placed  the  finger  of  the 
French  commander  on  a  deep  scar  in  his  bosom,  and  then 
exultingly  demanded, — 

"  Does  my  father  know  that?" 

"  What  warrior  does  not  ?  'tis  where  a  leaden  bullet 
has  cut." 

"  And  this  ? "  continued  the  Indian,  who  had  turned 
his  naked  back  to  the  other,  his  body  being  without  its 
usual  calico  mantle. 

'This! — my  son  has  been  sadly  injured,  here;  who 
has  done  this  ?  " 

"  Magua  slept  hard  in  the  English  wigwams,  and  the 
sticks  have  left  their  mark,"  returned  the  savage,  with 
a  hollow  laugh,  which  did  not  conceal  the  fierce  temper 
that  nearly  choked  him.  Then  recollecting  himself,  with 
sudden  and  native  dignity,  he  added,  "  Go ;  teach  your 
young  men,  it  is  peace.  Le  Renard  Subtil  knows  how 
to  speak  to  a  Huron  warrior." 

Without  deigning  to  bestow  further  word's,  or  to  wait 
for  any  answer,  the  savage  cast  his  rifle  into  the  hollow 
of  his  arm,  and  moved  silently  through  the  encampment 
towards  the  woods  where  his  own  tribe  was  known  to 
lie.  Every  few  yards  as  he  proceeded  he  was  challenged 
by  the  sentinels;  but  he  stalked  sullenly  onward,  utterly 
disregarding  the  summons  of  the  soldiers,  who  only 
spared  his  life  because  they  knew  the  air  and  tread  no 
less  than  the  obstinate  daring  of  an  Indian. 

Montcalm  lingered  long  and  melancholy  on  the  strand, 
where  he  had  been  left  by  his  companion,  brooding 
deeply  on  the  temper  which  his  ungovernable  ally  had 


248  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

just  discovered.  Already  had  his  fair  fame  been  tar 
nished  by  one  horrid  scene,  and  in  circumstances  fear 
fully  resembling  those  under  which  he  now  found  him 
self.  As  he  mused  he  became  keenly  sensible  of  the 
deep  responsibility  they  assume3  who  disregard  the  means 
to  attain  their  end,  and  of  all  the  danger  of  setting  in 
motion  an  engine  which  it  exceeds  human  power  to 
control.  Then  shaking  off  a  train  of  reflections  that  he 
accounted  a  weakness  in  such  a  moment  of  triumph,  he 
retraced  his  steps  towards  his  tent,  giving  the  order  as 
he  passed,  to  make  the  signal  that  should  arouse  the  army 
from  its  slumbers. 

The  first  tap  of  the  French  drums  was  echoed  from 
the  bosom  of  the  fort,  and  presently  the  valley  was  filled 
with  the  strains  of  martial  music,  rising  long,  thrilling, 
and  lively  above  the  rattling  accompaniment.  The  horns 
of  the  victors  sounded  merry  and  cheerful  flourishes, 
until  the  last  laggard  of  the  camp  was  at  his  post;  but 
the  instant  the  British  fifes  had  blown  their  shrill  signal, 
they  became  mute.  In  the  meantime  the  day  had  dawned, 
and  when  the  line  of  the  French  army  was  ready  to  re 
ceive  its  general,  the  rays  of  a  brilliant  sun  were  glanc 
ing  along  the  glittering  array.  Then  that  success,  which 
was  already  so  well  known,  was  officially  announced;  the 
favored  band  who  were  selected  to  guard  the  gates  of 
the  fort  were  detailed,  and  defiled  before  their  chief;  the 
signal  of  their  approach  was  given,  and  all  the  usual 
preparations  for  a  change  of  masters  were  ordered  a,nd 
executed  directly  under  the  guns  of  the  contested  works. 

A  very  different  scene  presented  itself  within  the  lines 
of  the  Anglo-American  army.  As  soon  as  the  warning 
signal  was  given,  it  exhibited  all  the  signs  of  a  hurried 
and  forced  departure.  The  sullen  soldiers  shouldered 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  249 

their  empty  tubes  and  fell  into  their  places,  like  men 
whose  blood  had  been  heated  by  the  past  contest,  and 
who  only  desired  the  opportunity  to  revenge  an  indignity 
which  was  still  wounding  to  their  pride,  concealed  as 
it  was  under  all  the  observances  of  military  etiquette. 
Women  and  children  ran  from  place  to  place,  some  bear 
ing  the  scanty  remnants  of  their  baggage,  and  others 
searching  in  the  ranks  for  those  countenances  they  looked 
up  to  for  protection. 

.  Munro  appeared  among  his  silent  troops  firm  but  de 
jected.  It  was  evident  that  the  unexpected  blow  had 
struck  deep  into  his  heart,  though  he  struggled  to  sustain 
his  misfortune  with  the  port  of  a  man. 

Duncan  was  touched  at  the  quiet  and  impressive  ex 
hibition  .of  his  grief.  He  had  discharged  his  own  duty, 
and  he  now  pressed  to  the  side  of  the  old  man,  to  know 
in  what  particular  he  might  serve  him. 

"  My  daughters,"  was  the  brief  but  expressive  reply. 

"  Good  heavens !  are  not  arrangements  already  made 
for  their  convenience?" 

"  To-day  I  am  only  a  soldier,  Major  Heyward,"  said 
the  veteran.  "  All  that  you  see  here,  claim  alike  to  be 
my  children." 

Duncan  had  heard  enough.  Without  losing  one  of 
those  moments  which  had  now  become  so  precious,  he 
flew  towards  the  quarters  of  Munro,  in  quest  of  the  sis 
ters.  He  found  them  on  the  threshold  of  the  low  edi 
fice,  already  prepared  to  depart,  and  surrounded  by  a 
clamorous  and  weeping  assemblage  of  their  own  sex, 
that  had  gathered  about  the  place,  with  a  sort  of  in 
stinctive  consciousness  that  it  was  the  point  most  likely 
to  be  protected.  Though  the  cheeks  of  Cora  were  pale, 
and  her  countenance  anxious,  she  had  lost  none  of  her 


250  The  Last    of  the    Mohicans 

firmness ;  hut  the  eyes  of  Alice  were  inflamed,  and  be 
trayed  how  long  and  bitterly  she  had  wept.  They  both, 
however,  received  the  young  man  with  undisguised  pleas 
ure;  the  former,  for  a  novelty,  being  the  first  to  speak. 

4  The  fort  is  lost."  she  said,  with  a  melancholy  smile; 
"though  our  good  name,  1  trust,  remains." 

"  Tis  brighter  than  ever.  Hut.  dearest  Miss  Munro, 
it  is  time  to  think  less  of  others,  and  to  make  some  pro 
vision  for  yourself.  Military  usage, — pride, — that  pride 
on  which  you  so  much  value  yourself,  demands  that 
your  father  and  I  should  for  a  little  while  continue  with 
the  troops.  Then  where  to  seek  a  proper  protector  for 
you  against  the  confusion  and  chances  of  such  a  scene?" 

*'  None  is  necessary,"  returned  Cora;  "  who  will  dare  to 
injure  or  insult  the  daughter  of  such  a  father.  a4:  a  time 
like  this?" 

"  I  would  not  leave  yon  alone."  continued  the  youth, 
looking  about  him  in  a  hurried  manner.  "  for  the  com 
mand  of  the  best  regiment  in  the  pay  of  the  king.  Re 
member,  our  Alice  is  not  gifted  with  all  your  firmness. 
and  God  only  knows  the  terror  she  might  endure." 

"  You  may  be  right."  Cora  replied,  smiling  again,  but 
fu  more  sadly  than  before.  "Listen!  chance  has  al 
ready  sent  us  a  friend  when  he  is  most  needed." 

Duncan  did  listen,  and  on  the  instant  comprehended 
her  meaning.  The  low  and  serious  sounds  of  the  sacred 
music,  so  well  known  to  the  eastern  provinces,  caught 
his  ear,  and  instantly  drew  him  to  an  apartment  in  an 
adjacent  building,  which  had  already  been  deserted  by 
its  customary  tenants.  There  he  found  David,  pouring 
out  his  pious  feelings,  through  the  only  medium  in  which 
he  ever  indulged.  Duncan  waited,  until,  by  the  cessation 
of  the  movement  of  the  hand,  he  believed  the  strain  was 


The    Last   of  the   Mohicans  251 

ended,    when,    by   touching   his    shoulder,    he    drew   the 
attention  of  the  other  to  himself,  and  in  a  few 
explained   his   wi 

"Even  so,"  replied  the  single-minded  di-riple  of  the 
King  of  Israel,  when  the  young  man  had  ended  ;  "  I  have 
found  much  that  is  comely  and  melodious  in  the  maidf-n  ~. 
and  it  is  fitting  that  we  who  have  much 

peril,  should  abid<-  I]  attend  them, 

when  I  have  completed  my  morning  prai-e.  to  whirl) 
nothing  is  now  wanting  but  the  doxology.  Wilt  thou 
bear  a  part,  friend?  The  meter  is  common,  and  the 
tune,  '  Southwell.'  " 

Then,  extending  the  little  volume,  and  giving  the  pitch 
of  the  air,  anew  with  considerate  attention,  David  re 
commenced  and  finished  his  strains,  with  a  fixedness  of 
manner  that  it  was  not  easy  to  interrupt.  Heyward  was 
fain  to  wait  until  the  verse  was  ended;  when,  seeing 
David  relieving  himself  from  the  spectacles,  and  replac 
ing  the  book,  he  continued,— 

"  It  will  be  your  duty  to  see  that  none  dare  t< 
proach  the  ladies  with  any  rude  intention,  or  to  offer 
insult  or  taunt  at  the  misfortune  of  their  brave  father. 
In  this  task  you  will  be  seconded  by  the  domestics  of 
their   household." 

"  Even  so." 

"  It  is  possible  that  the  Indians  and  stragglers  of  the 
enemy  may  intrude,  in  which  case  you  will  remind  them 
of  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  and  threaten  to  report 
their  conduct  to  Montcalm.  A  word  will  suffice." 

"If  not,  I  have  that  here  which  shall,"  returned 
David,  exhibiting  his  book,  with  an  air  in  which  meek 
ness  and  confidence  were  singularly  blended.  "  Here 
are  words  which,  uttered,  or  rather  thundered,  with 


252  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

proper  emphasis,  and  in  measured  time,  shall  quiet  the 
most  unruly  temper: — 

"  '  Why  rage  the  heathen  furiously ! '  " — 


"  Enough,"  said  Heyward,  interrupting  the  burst  of 
his  musical  invocation:  "we  understand  each  other;  it 
is  time  that  we  should  now  assume  our  respective 
duties." 

Gamut  cheerfully  assented,  and  together  they  sought 
the  females.  Cora  received  her  new,  and  somewhat  ex 
traordinary  protector,  courteously  at  least;  and  even  the 
pallid  features  of  Alice  lighted  again  with  some  of  their 
native  archness  as  she  thanked  Heyward  for  his  care. 
Duncan  took  occasion  to  assure  them  he  had  done  the 
best  that  circumstances  permitted,,  and,  as  he  believed, 
quite  enough  for  the  security  of  their  feelings ;  of  danger 
there  was  none.  He  then  spoke  gladly  of  his  intention 
to  rejoin  them  the  moment  he  had  led  the  advance  a  few 
miles  towards  the  Hudson,  and  immediately  took  his 
leave. 

By  this  time  the  signal  of  departure  had  been  given, 
and  the  head  of  the  English  column  was  in  motion.  The 
sisters  started  at  the  sound,  and  glancing  their  eyes 
around,  they  saw  the  white  uniforms  of  the  French 
grenadiers,  who  had  already  taken  possession  of  the  gates 
of  the  fort.  At  that  moment,  an  enormous  cloud  seemed 
to  pass  suddenly  above  their  heads,  and  looking  upward, 
they  discovered  that  they  stood  beneath  the  wide  folds 
of  the  standard  of  France. 

"  Let  us  go,"  said  Cora ;  "  this  is  no  longer  a  fit  place 
for  the  children  of  an  English  officer." 

Alice  clung  to  the  arm  of  her  sister,  and  together  they 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  253 

left  the  parade,  accompanied  by  the  moving  throng  that 
surrounded  them. 

As  they  passed  the  gates,  the  French  officers,  who  had 
learned  their  rank,  bowed  often  and  low,  forbearing, 
however,  to  intrude  those  attentions  which  they  saw, 
with  peculiar  tact,  might  not  be  agreeable.  As  every 
vehicle  and  each  beast  of  burden  was  occupied  by  the 
sick  and  wounded,  Cora  had  decided  to  endure  the  fa 
tigues  of  a  foot  march,  rather  than  interfere  with  their 
comforts.  Indeed,  many  a  maimed  and  feeble  soldier 
was  compelled  to  drag  his  exhausted  limbs  in  the  rear 
of  the  columns,  for  the  want  of  the  necessary  means  of 
conveyance,  in  that  wilderness.  The  whole,  however, 
was  in  motion ;  the  weak  and  wounded,  groaning,  and  in 
suffering;  their  comrades,  silent  and  sullen;  and  the 
women  and  children  in  terror,  they  knew  not  of  what. 

As  the  confused  and  timid  throng  left  the  protecting 
mounds  of  the  fort,  and  issued  on  the  open  plain,  the 
whole  scene  was  at  once  presented  to  their  eyes.  At  a 
little  distance  on  the  right,  and  somewhat  in  the  rear, 
the  French  army  stood  to  their  arms,  Montcalm  having 
collected  his  parties,  so  soon  as  his  guards  had  pos 
session  of  the  works.  They  were  attentive  but  silent 
observers  of  the  proceedings  of  the  vanquished,  failing 
in  none  of  the  stipulated  military  honors,  and  offering 
no  taunt  or  insult,  in  their  success,  to  their  less  fortu 
nate  foes.  Living  masses  of  the  English,  to  the  amount 
in  the  whole  of  near  three  thousand,  were  moving  slowly 
across  the  plain,  towards  the  common  center,  and  gradu 
ally  approached  each  other,  as  they  converged  to  the 
point  of  their  march,  a  vista  cut  through  the  lofty  trees, 
where  the  road  to  the  Hudson  entered  the  forest.  Along 
the  sweeping  borders  of  the  woods,  hung  a  dark  cloud 


254  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

of  savages,  eying  the  passage  of  their  enemies,  and  hov 
ering,  at  a  distance,  like  vultures,  who  were  only  kept 
from  swooping  on  their  prey,  by  the  presence  and  re 
straint  of  a  superior  army.  A  few  had  straggled  among 
the  conquered  columns,  where  they  stalked  in  sullen  dis 
content;  attentive,  though,  as  yet,  passive  observers  of 
the  moving  multitude. 

The  advance,  with  Heyward  at  its  head,  had  already 
reached  the  defile,  and  was  slowly  disappearing,  when 
the  attention  of  Cora  was  drawn  to  a  collection  of  strag 
glers,  by  the  sounds  of  contention.  A  truant  provincial 
was  paying  the  forfeit  of  his  disobedience,  by  being  plun 
dered  of  those  very  effects  which  had  caused  him  to 
desert  his  place  in  the  ranks.  The  man  was  of  powerful 
frame,  and  too  avaricious  to  part  with  his  goods  without 
a  struggle.  Individuals  from  either  party  interfered; 
the  one  side  to  prevent,  and  the  other  to  aid  in  the  rob 
bery.  Voices  grew  loud  and  angry,  and  a  hundred  sav 
ages  appeared,  as  it  were  by  magic,  where  a  dozen  only 
had  been  seen  a  minute  before.  It  was  then  that  Cora 
saw  the  form  of  Magua  gliding  among  his  countrymen, 
and  speaking  with  his  fatal  and  artful  eloquence.  The 
mass  of  women  and  children  stopped,  and  hovered  to 
gether  like  alarmed  and  fluttering  birds.  But  the  cu 
pidity  of  the  Indian  was  soon  gratified,  and  the  different 
bodies  again  moved  slowly  onward. 

The  savages  now  fell  back,  and  seemed  content  to  let 
their  enemies  advance  without  further  molestation.  But 
as  the  female  crowd  approached  them,  the  gaudy  colors 
of  a  shawl  attracted  the  eyes  of  a  wild  and  untutored 
Huron.  He  advanced  to  seize  it,  without  the  least  hesi 
tation.  The  woman,  more  in  terror  than  through  love 
of  the  ornament,  wrapped  her  child  in  the  coveted  article, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  255 

and  folded  both  more  closely  to  her  bosom.  Cora  was 
in  the  act  of  speaking,  with  an  intent  to  advise  the 
woman  to  abandon  the  trifle,  when  the  savage  relin 
quished  his  hold  of  the  shawl,  and  tore  the  screaming 
infant  from  her  arms.  Abandoning  everything  to  the 
greedy  grasp  of  those  around  "her,  the  mother  darted, 
with  distraction  in  her  mien,  to  reclaim  her  child.  The 
Indian  smiled  grimly,  and  extended  one  hand,  in  sign 
of  a  willingness  to  exchange,  while  with  the  other,  he 
flourished  the  babe  over  his  head,  holding  it  by  the  feet 
as  if  to  enhance  the  value  of  the  ransom. 

"  Here  —  here* — there — all — any — everything!  "  ex 
claimed  the  breathless  woman;  tearing  the  lighter  arti 
cles  of  dress  from  her  person,  with  ill-directed  and  trem 
bling  fingers ;  "  take  all,  but  give  me  my  babe !  " 

The  savage  spurned  the  worthless  rags,  and  perceiv 
ing  that  the  shawl  had  already  become  a  prize  to  an 
other,  his  bantering  but  sullen  smile  changing  to  a  gleam 
of  ferocity,  he  dashed  the  head  of  the  infant  against 
a  rock,  and  cast  its  quivering  remains  to  her  very  feet. 
For  an  instant,  the  mother  stood,  like  a  statue  of  despair, 
looking  wildly  down  at  the  unseemly  object,  which  had 
so  lately  nestled  in  her  bosom  and  smiled  in  her  face ; 
and  then  she  raised  her  eyes  and  countenance  towards 
heaven,  as  if  calling  on  God  to  curse  the  perpetrator  of 
the  foul  deed.  She  was  spared  the  sin  of  such  a  prayer ; 
for,  maddened  at  his  disappointment,  and  excited  at  the 
sight  of  blood,  the  Huron  mercifully  drove  his  toma 
hawk  into  her  own  brain.  The  mother  sank  under  the 
blow,  and  fell,  grasping  at  her  child,  in  death,  with  the 
same  engrossing  love  that  had  caused  her  to  cherish 
it  when  living. 

At  that  dangerous  moment  Magua  placed  his  hands  to 


256  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

his  mouth,  and  raised  the  fatal  and  appalling  whoop. 
The  scattered  Indians  started  at  the  well-known  cry,  as 
coursers  bound  at  the  signal  to  quit  the  goal;  and,  di 
rectly,  there  arose  such  a  yell  along  the  plain,  and 
through  the  arches  of  the  wood,  as  seldom  burst  from 
human  lips  before.  They  who  heard  it  listened  with  a 
curdling  horror  at  the  heart,  little  inferior  to  that  dread 
which  may  be  expected  to  attend  the  blasts  of  the  final 
summons. 

More  than  two  thousand  raving  savages  broke  from 
the  forest  at  the  signal,  and  threw  themselves  across  the 
fatal  plain  with  instinctive  alacrity.  We  shall  not  dwell 
on  the  revolting  horrors  that  succeeded.  Death  was, 
everywhere,  and  in  his  most  terrific  and  disgusting  as 
pects.  Resistance  only  served  to  inflame  the  murderers, 
who  inflicted  their  furious  blows  long  after  their  vic 
tims  were  beyond  the  power  of  their  resentment.  The 
flow  of  blood  might  be  likened  to  the  outbreaking  of  a 
torrent;  and,  as  the  natives  became  heated  and  mad 
dened  by  the  sight,  many  among  them  even  kneeled  to 
the  earth,  and  drank  freely,  exultingly,  hellishly,  of  the 
crimson  tide. 

.  The  trained  bodies  of  the  troops  threw  themselves 
quickly  into  solid  masses,  endeavoring  to  awe  their  as 
sailants  by  the  imposing  appearance  of  a  military  front. 
The  experiment  in  some  measure  succeeded,  though  far 
too  many  suffered  their  unloaded  muskets  to  be  torn 
from  their  hands,  in  the  vain  hope  of  appeasing  the 
savages. 

In  such  a  scene  none  had  leisure  to  note  the  fleeting 
moments.    It  might  have  been  ten  minutes  (it  seemed  an; 
age),   that   the   sisters   had   stood    riveted   to   one   spot, 
horror-stricken,  and  nearly  helpless.    When  the  first  blow 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  257 

was  struck,  their  screaming  companions  had  pressed  upon 
them  in  a  body,  rendering  flight  impossible ;  and  now 
that  fear  or  death  had  scattered  most,  if  not  all,  from 
around  them,  they  saw  no  avenue  open,  but  such  as 
conducted  to  the  tomahawks  of  their  foes.  On  every 
side  arose  shrieks,  groans,  exhortations,  and  curses.  At 
this  moment  Alice  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  vast  form 
of  her  father,  moving  rapidly  across  the  plain,  in  the 
direction  of  the  French  army.  He  was,  in  truth,  pro 
ceeding  to  Montcalm,  fearless  of  every  danger,  to  claim 
the  tardy  escort  for  which  he  had  before  conditioned. 
Fifty  glittering  axes  and  barbed  spears  were  offered  un 
heeded  at  his  life,  but  the  savages  respected  his  rank  and 
calmness,  even  in  their  fury.  The  dangerous  weapons, 
were  brushed  aside  by  the  still  nervous  arm  of  the  vet 
eran,  or  fell  of  themselves,  after  menacing  an  act  that 
it  would  seem  no  one  had  courage  to  perform.  Fortu 
nately,  the  vindictive  Magua  was  searching  for  his  vic 
tim  in  the  very  band  the  veteran  had  just  quitted. 

"  Father — father — we  are  here  !  "  shrieked  Alice,  as 
he  passed,  at  no  great  distance,  without  appearing  to 
heed  them.  "  Come  to  us,  father,  or  we  die !  " 

The  cry  was  repeated,  and  in  terms  and  tones  that 
might  have  melted  a  heart  of  stone,  but  it  was  unan 
swered.  Once,  indeed,  the  old  man  appeared  to  catch 
the  sounds,  for  he  paused  and  listened;  but  Alice  had 
dropped  senseless  on  the  earth,  and  Cora  had  sunk  at 
her  side,  hovering  in  untiring  tenderness  over  her 
lifeless  form.  Munro  shook  his  head  in  disappoint 
ment,  and  proceeded,  bent  on  the  high  duty  of  his 
station. 

"  Lady,"  said  Gamut,  who,  helpless  and  useless  as  he 
was,  had  not  yet  dreamed  of  deserting  his  trust,  "  it  is 


258  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  jubilee  of  the  devils,  and  this  is  not  a  meet  place  for 
Christians  to  tarry  in.  Let  us  up  and  fly." 

"  Go,"  said  Cora,  still  gazing  at  her  unconscious  sis 
ter;  "  save  thyself.  To  me  thou  canst  not  be  of  further 
use."  jfT 

David  comprehended  the  unyielding  character  of  her 
resolution,  by  the  simple  but  expressive  gesture  that  ac 
companied  her  words.  He  gazed,  for  a  moment,  at  the 
dusky  forms  that  were  acting  their  hellish  rites  on  every 
side  of  him,  and  his  tall  person  grew  more  erect,  while 
his  chest  heaved,  and  every  feature  swelled,  and  seemed 
to  speak  with  the  power  of  the  feelings  by  which  he  was 
governed. 

.  "  If  the  Jewish  boy  might  tame  the  evil  spirit  of  Saul 
by  the  sound  of  his  harp,  and  the  words  of  sacred  song, 
it  may  not  be  amiss,"  he  said,  "  to  try  the  potency  of 
music  here." 

Then  raising  his  voice  to  its  highest  tones,  he  poured 
out  a  strain  so  powerful  as  to  be  heard  even  amid  the 
din  of  that  bloody  field.  More  than  one  savage  rushed 
towards  them,  thinking  to  rifle  the  unprotected  sisters 
of  their  attire,  and  bear  away  their  scalps;  but  when 
they  found  this  strange  and  unmoved  figure  riveted  to 
his  post,  they  paused  to  listen.  Astonishment  soon 
changed  to  admiration,  and  they  passed  on  to  other  and 
less  courageous  victims,  openly  expressing  their  satis 
faction  at  the  firmness  with  which  the  white  warrior 
sang  his  death  song.  Encouraged  and  deluded  by  his 
success,  David  exerted  all  his  powers  to  extend  what 
he  believed  so  holy  an  influence.  The  unwonted  sounds 
caught  the  ears  of  a  distant  savage,  who  flew  raging  from 
group  to  group,  like  one  who,  scorning  to  touch  the  vul 
gar  herd,  hunted  for  some  victim  more  worthy  of  his 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  259 

renown.  It  was  Magua,  who  uttered  a  yell  of  pleasure 
when  he  beheld  his  ancient  prisoners  again  at  his  mercy. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  laying  his  soiled  hands  on  the  dress 
of  Cora,  "  the  wigwam  of  the  Huron  is  still  open.  Is 
it  not  better  tfn^this  place?" 

"  Away !  "  cried  Cora,  veiling  her  eyes  from  his  re 
volting  aspect. 

The  Indian  laughed  tauntingly,  as  he  held  up  his  reek 
ing  hand,  and  answered, — "  It  is  red,  but  it  comes  from 
white  veins !  " 

"  Monster !  there  is  blood,  oceans  of  blood,  upon  thy 
soul ;  thy  spirit  has  moved  this  scene." 

"  Magua  is  a  great  chief !  "  returned  the  exulting  sav 
age  ;  "  will  the  dark  hair  go  to  his  tribe?" 

"  Never !  strike,  if  thou  wilt,  and  complete  thy  re 
venge." 

He  hesitated  a  moment;  and  then  catching  the  light 
and  senseless  form  of  Alice  in  his  arms,  the  subtle  Indian 
moved  swiftly  across  the  plain  towards  the  woods. 

"  Hold !  "  shrieked  Cora,  following  wildly  on  his  foot 
steps  ;  "  release  the  child !  wretch !  what  is  't  you  do  ?  " 

But  Magua  was  deaf  to  her  voice;  or  rather  he  knew 
his  power,  and  was  determined  to  maintain  it. 

"  Stay — lady — stay,"  called  Gamut,  after  the  uncon 
scious  Cora.  "  The  holy  charm  is  beginning  to  be  felt, 
and  soon  shalt  thou  see  this  horrid  tumult  stilled." 

Perceiving  that,  in  his  turn,  he  was  unheeded,  the 
faithful  David  followed  the  distracted  sister,  raising  his 
voice  again  in  sacred  song,  and  sweeping  the  air  to  the 
measure,  with  his  long  arm,  in  diligent  accompaniment. 
In  this  manner  they  traversed  the  plain,  through  the 
flying,  the  wounded,  and  the  dead.  The  fierce  Huron 
was,  at  any  time,  sufficient  for  himself  and  the  victim 


260  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

that  he  bore ;  though  Cora  would  have  fallen,  more  than 
once,  under  the  blows  of  her  savage  enemies,  but  for 
the  extraordinary  being  who  stalked  in  her  rear,  and  who 
now  appeared  to  the  astonished  natives  gifted  with  the 
protecting  spirit  of  madness. 

Magua,  who  knew  how  to  avoid  the  more  pressing 
dangers,  and  also  to  elude  pursuit,  entered  the  woods 
through  a  low  ravine,  where  he  quickly,  found  the  Nar- 
ragansetts,  which  the  travelers  had  abandoned  so  shortly 
before,  awaiting  his  appearance,  in  custody  of  a  savage 
as  fierce  and  as  malign  in  his  expression  as  himself. 
Laying  Alice  on  one  of  the  horses,  he  made  a  sign  to 
Cora  to  mount  the  other. 

Notwithstanding  the  horror  excited  by  the  presence 
of  her  captor,  there  was  a  present  relief  in  escaping  from 
the  bloody  scene  enacting  on  the  plain,  to  which  Cora 
could  not  be  altogether  insensible.  She  took  her  seat, 
and  held  forth  her  arms  for  her  sister,  with  an  air  of 
entreaty  and  love  that  even  the  Huron  could  not  deny. 
Placing  Alice,  then,  on  the  same  animal  with  Cora,  he 
seized  the  bridle,  and  commenced  his  route  by  plunging 
deeper  into  the  forest.  David,  perceiving  that  he  was 
left  alone,  utterly  disregarded,  as  a  subject  too  worthless 
even  to  destroy,  threw  his  long  limb  across  the  saddle 
of  the  beast  they  had  deserted,  and  made  such  progress 
in  the  pursuit  as  the  difficulties  of  the  path  permitted. 

They  soon  began  to  ascend,  but  as  the  motion  had  a 
tendency  to  revive  the  dormant  faculties  of  her  sister, 
the  attention  of  Cora  was  too  much  divided  between  the 
tenderest  solicitude  in  her  behalf,  and  in  listening  to 
the  cries  which  were  still  too  audible  on  the  plain,  to 
note  the  direction  in  which  they  journeyed.  When,  how 
ever,  they  gained  the  flattened. surface  of  the  mountain- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  261 

top,  and  approached  the  eastern  precipice,  she  recognized 
the  spot  to  which  she  had  once  before  been  led  under 
the  more  friendly  auspices  of  the  scout.  Here  Magua 
suffered  them  to  dismount ;  and,  notwithstanding  their 
own  captivity,  the  curiosity  which  seems  inseparable 
from  horror,  induced  them  to  gaze  at  the  sickening  sight 
below. 

The  cruel  work  was  still  unchecked.  On  every  side 
the  captured  were  flying  before  their  relentless  perse 
cutors,  while  the  armed  columns  of  the  Christian  king 
stood  fast  in  an  apathy  which  has  never  been  explained, 
and  which  has  left  an  unmovable  blot  on  the  otherwise 
fair  escutcheon  of  their  leader.  Nor  was  the  sword  of 
death  stayed  until  cupidity  got  the  mastery  of  revenge. 
Then,  indeed,  the  shrieks  of  the  wounded  and  the  yells 
of  their  murderers  grew  less  frequent,  until,  finally,  the 
cries  of  horror  were  lost  to  their  ear,  or  were  drowned 
in  the  loud,  long,  and  piercing  whoops  of  the  triumphant 
savages. 


CHAPTER 
XVIII.  & 


"Why,  anything: 

An  honorable  murderer,  if  you  will; 
For  naught  I  did  in  hate,  but  all  in  honor." 

Othello. 

THE  bloody  and  inhuman  scene  rather  incidentally 
mentioned  than  described  in  the  preceding  chap 
ter,  is  conspicuous  in  the  pages  of  colonial  history,  by 
the  merited  title  of  "  The  Massacre  of  William  Henry." 
It  so  far  deepened  the  stain  which  a  previous  and  very 
similar  event  had  left  upon  the  reputation  of  the  French 
commander,  that  it  was  not  entirely  erased  by  his  early 
and  glorious  death.  It  is  now  becoming  obscured  by 
time;  and  thousands,  who  know  that  Montcalm  died  like 
a  hero  on  the  plains  of  Abraham,  have  yet  to  learn  how 
much  he  was  deficient  in  that  moral  courage  without 
which  no  man  can  be  truly  great.  Pages  might  be  writ 
ten  to  prove,  from  this  illustrious  example,  the  defects 
of  human  excellence;  to  show  how  easy  it  is  for  gen 
erous  sentiments,  high  courtesy,  and  chivalrous  courage, 
to  lose  their  influence  beneath  the  chilling  blight  of 
selfishness,  and  to  exhibit  to  the  world  a  man  who  was 

262 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  263 

great  in  all  the  miner  attributes  of  character,  but  who 
was  found  wanting  when  it  became  necessary  to  prove 
how  much  principle  is  superior  to  policy.  But  the  task 
would  exceed  our  prerogatives ;  and,  as  history,  like  love, 
is  so  apt  to  surround  her  heroes  with  an  atmosphere  of 
imaginary  brightness,  it  is  probable  that  Louis  de  Saint 
Veran  will  be  viewed  by  posterity  only  as  the  gallant 
defender  of  his  country,  while  his  cruel  apathy  on  the 
shores  of  the  Oswego  and  of  the  Horican  will  be  for 
gotten.  Deeply  regretting  this  weakness  on  the  part  of 
a  sister  muse,  we  shall  at  once  retire  from  her  sacred 
precincts,  within  the  proper  limits  of  our  own  humble 
vocation. 

The  third  day  from  the  capture  of  the  fort  was  draw 
ing  to  a  close,  but  the  business  of  the  narrative  must 
still  detain  the  reader  on  the  shores  of  the  "  holy  lake." 
When  last  seen,  the  environs  of  the  works  were  rilled 
with  violence  and  uproar.  They  were  now  possessed 
by  stillness  and  death.  The  blood-stained  conquerors 
had  departed;  and  their  camp,  which  had  so  lately  rung 
with  the  merry  rejoicings  of  a  victorious  army,  lay  a 
silent  and  deserted  city  of  huts.  The  fortress  was  a 
smoldering  ruin ;  charred  rafters,  fragments  of  exploded 
artillery,  and  rent  mason-work,  covering  its  earthen 
mounds  in  confused  disorder. 

A  frightful  change  had  also  occurred  in  the  season. 
The  sun  had  hid  its  warmth  behind  an  impenetrable  mass 
of  vapor,  and  hundreds  of  human  forms,  which  had 
blackened  beneath  the  fierce  heats  of  August,  were  stiff 
ening  in  their  deformity,  before  the  blasts  of  a  prema 
ture  November.  The  curling  and  spotless  mists,  which 
had  been  seen  sailing  above  the  hills  towards  the  north, 
were  now  returning  in  an  interminable  dusky  sheet,  that 


264  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

was  urged  along  by  the  fury  of  a  tempest.  The  crowded 
mirror  of  the  Horican  was  gone;  and,  in  its  place,  the 
green  and  angry  waters  lashed  the  shores,  as  if  indig 
nantly  casting  back  its  impurities  to  the  polluted  strand. 
Still  the  clear  fountain  retained  a  portion  of  its  charmed 
influence,  but  it  reflected  only  the  somber  gloom  that 
fell  from  the  impending  heavens.  That  humid  and  con 
genial  atmosphere  which  commonly  adorned  the  view, 
veiling  its  harshness,  and  softening  its  asperities,  had  dis 
appeared,  and  the  northern  air  poured  across  the  waste 
of  water  so  harsh  and  unmingled,  that  nothing  was  left 
to  be  conjectured  by  the  eye,  or  fashioned  by  the  fancy. 

The  fiercer  element  had  cropped  the  verdure  of  the 
plain,  which  looked  as  though  it  were  scathed  by  the 
consuming  lightning.  But,  here  and  there,  a  dark  green 
tuft  rose  in  the  midst  of  the  desolation ;  the  earliest  fruits 
of  a  soil  that  had  been  fattened  with  human  blood.  The 
whole  landscape,  which,  seen  by  a  favoring  light,  and 
in  a  genial  temperature,  had  been  found  so  lovely,  ap 
peared  now  like  some  pictured  allegory  of  life,  in  which 
objects  were  arrayed  in  their  harshest  but  truest  colors, 
and  without  the  relief  of  any  shadowing. 

The  solitary  and  arid  blades  of  grass  arose  from  the 
passing  gusts  fearfully  perceptible;  the  bold  and  rocky 
mountains  were  too  distinct  in  their  barrenness,  and  the 
eye  even  sought  relief,  in  vain,  by  attempting  to  pierce 
the  illimitable  void  of  heaven,  which  was  shut  to  its 
gaze  by  the  dusky  sheet  of  ragged  and  driving  vapor. 

The  wind  blew  unequally ;  sometimes  sweeping  heavily 
along  the  ground,  seeming  to  whisper  its  meanings  in 
the  cold  ears  of  the  dead,  then  rising  in  a  shrill  and 
mournful  whistling,  it  entered  the  forest  with  a  rush  that 
filled  the  air  with  the  leaves  and  branches  it  scattered 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  265 

in  its  path.  Amid  the  unnatural  shower,  a  few  hungry 
ravens  struggled  with  the  gale;  but  no  sooner  was  the 
green  ocean  of  woods,  which  stretched  beneath  them, 
passed,  than  they  gladly  stopped,  at  random,  to  their 
hideous  banquet. 

In  short,  it  was  the  scene  of  wildness  and  desolation ; 
and  it  appeared  as  if  all  who  had  profanely  entered  it 
had  been  stricken,  at  a  blow,  by  the  relentless  arm  of 
death.  But  the  prohibition  had  ceased;  and  for  the 
first  time  since  the  perpetrators  of  those  foul  deeds  which 
had  assisted  to  disfigure  the  scene  were  gone,  living  hu 
man  beings  had  now  presumed  to  approach  the  place. 

About  an  hour  before  the  setting  of  the  sun,  on  the 
day  already  mentioned,  the  forms  of  five  men  might 
have  been  seen  issuing  from  the  narrow  vista  of  trees, 
where  the  path  to  the  Hudson  entered  the  forest,  and 
advancing  in  the  direction  of  the  ruined  works.  At  first 
their  progress  was  slow  and  guarded,  as  though  they 
entered  with  reluctance  amid  the  horrors  of  the  spot,  or 
dreaded  the  renewal  of  its  frightful  incidents.  A  light 
figure  preceded  the  rest  of  the  party,  with  the  caution 
and  activity  of  a  native;  ascending  every  hillock  to  rec- 
onnoiter,  and  indicating,  by  gesture,  to  his  companions, 
the  route  he  deemed  it  most  prudent  to  pursue.  Nor 
were  those  in  the  rear  wanting  in  every  caution  and  fore 
sight  known  to  forest  warfare.  One  among  them,  he 
also  was  an  Indian,  moved  a  little  on  one  flame,  and 
watched  the  margin  of  the  woods,  with  eyes  long  accus 
tomed  to  read  the  smallest  sign  of  danger.  The  re 
maining  three  were  white,  though  clad  in  vestments 
adapted,  both  in  quality  and  color,  to  their  present  haz 
ardous  pursuit, — that  of  hanging  on  the  skirts  of  a 
retiring  army  in  the  wilderness. 


266  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

The  effects  produced  by  the  appalling  sights  that  con 
stantly  arose  in  their  path  to  the  lake  shore,  were  as 
different  as  the  characters  of  the  respective  individuals 
who  composed  the  party.  The  youth  in  front  threw 
serious  but  furtive  glances  at  the  mangled  victims,  as 
he  stepped  lightly  across  the  plain,  afraid  to  exhibit  his 
feelings,  and  yet  too  inexperienced  to  quell  entirely  their 
sudden  and  powerful  influence.  His  red  associate,  how 
ever,  was  superior  to  such  a  weakness.  He  passed  the 
groups  of  dead-  with  a  steadiness  of  purpose,  and  an  eye 
so  calm,  that  nothing  but  long  and  inveterate  practice 
could  enable  him  to  maintain.  The  sensations  produced 
in  the  minds  of  even  the  white  men  were  different, 
though  uniformly  sorrowful.  One,  whose  gray  locks 
and  furrowed  lineaments,  blending  with  a  martial  air 
and  tread,  betrayed,  in  spite  of  the  disguise  of  a  woods 
man's  dress,  a  man  long  experienced  in  scenes  of  war, 
was  not  ashamed  to  groan  aloud,  whenever  a  spectacle 
of  more  than  usual  horror  came  under  his  view.  The 
young  man  at  his  elbow  shuddered,  but  seemed  to  sup 
press  his  feelings  in  tenderness  to  his  companion.  Of 
them  all,  the  straggler  who  brought  up  the  rear  appeared 
alone  to  betray  his  real  thoughts,  without  fear  of  ob 
servation  or  dread  of  consequences.  He  gazed  at  the 
most  appalling  sight  with  eyes  and  muscles  that  knew 
not  how  to  waver,  but  with  execrations  so  bitter  and  deep 
as  to  denote  how  much  he  denounced  the  crime  of  his 
enemies. 

The  reader  will  perceive  at  once,  in  these  respective 
characters,  the  Mohicans,  and  their  white  friend,  the 
scout;  together  with  Munro  and  Hey  ward.  It  was,  in 
truth,  the  father  in  quest  of  his  children,  attended  by 
the  youth  who  felt  so  deep  a  stake  in  their  happiness, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  267 

and  those  brave  and  trusty  foresters,  who  had  already 
proved  their  skill  and  fidelity  through  the  trying  scenes 
related. 

When  Uncas,  who  moved  in  front,  had  reached  the 
center  of  the  plain,  he  raised  a  cry  that  drew  his  com 
panions  in  a  body  to  the  spot.  The  young  warrior  h^d 
halted  over  a  group  of  females  who  lay  in  a  cluster,  a 
confused  mass  of  dead.  Notwithstanding  the  revolting 
horror  of  the  exhibition,  Munro  and  Heyward  flew  to 
wards  the  festering  heap,  endeavoring,  with  a  love  that 
no  unseemliness  could  extinguish,  to  discover  whether 
any  vestiges  of  those  they  sought  were  to  be  seen  among 
the  tattered  and  many-colored  garments.  The  father 
and  lover  found  instant  relief  in  the  search ;  though  each 
was  condemned  again  to  experience  the  misery  of  an 
uncertainty  that  was  hardly  less  insupportable  than  the 
most  revolting  truth.  They  were  standing,  silent  and 
thoughtful,  around  the  melancholy  pile,  when  the  scout 
approached.  Eying  the  sad  spectacle  with  an  angry 
countenance,  the  sturdy  woodsman,  for  the  first  time 
since  his  entering  the  plain,  spoke  intelligibly  and 
aloud : — 

"  I  have  been  on  many  a  shocking  field,  and  have  fol 
lowed  a  trail  of  blood  for  many  miles,"  he  said,  "  but 
never  have  I  found  the  hand  of  the  devil  so  plain  as  it 
is  here  to  be  seen !  Revenge  is  an  Indian  feeling,  and 
all  who  know  me  know  that  there  is  no  cross  in  my 
veins;  but  this  much  will  I  say — here,  in  the  face  of 
heaven,  and  with  the  power  of  the  Lord  so  manifest  in 
this  howling  wilderness, — that  should  these  Frenchers 
ever  trust  themselves  again  within  the  range  of  a  ragged 
bullet,  there  is  one. rifle  shall  play  its  part,  so  long  as 
flint  will  fire  or  powder  burn !  I  leave  the  tomahawk 


268  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  knife  to  such  as  have  a  natural  gift  to  use  them. 
What  say  you,  Chingachgook,"  he  added  in  Delaware; 
"  shall  the  Hurons  boast  of  this  to  their  women  when 
the  deep  snows  come  ?  " 

A  gleam  of  resentment  flashed  across  the  dark  linea 
ments  of  the  Mohican  chief:  he  loosened  his  knife  in  his 
sheath;  and  then  turning  calmly  from  the  sight,  his 
countenance  settled  into  a  repose  as  deep  as  if  he  never 
knew  the  instigation  of  passion. 

"  Montcalm !  Montcalm !  "  continued  the  deeply  re 
sentful  and  less  self-restrained  scout;  "  they  say  a  time 
must  come  when  all  the  deeds  done  in  the  flesh  will  be 
seen  at  a  single  look ;  and  that  by  eyes  cleared  from  mor 
tal  infirmities.  Woe  betide  the  wretch  who  is  born  to 
behold  this  plain,  with  the  judgment  hanging  about  his 
soul!  Ha — as  I  am  a  man  of  white  blood,  yonder  lies 
a  redskin,  without  the  hair  of  his  head  where  nature 
rooted  it!  Look  to  him,  -  Delaware ;  it  may  be  one  of 
your  missing  people ;  and  he  should  have  burial  like  a 
stout  warrior.  I  see  it  in  your  eye,  Sagamore:  a  Huron 
pays  for  this,  afore  the  fall  winds  have  blown  away  the 
scent  of  the  blood !  " 

Chingachgook  approached  the  mutilated  form,  and 
turning  it  over,  he  found  the  distinguishing  marks  of 
one  of  those  six  allied  tribes,  or  nations,  as  they  were 
called,  who,  while  they  fought  in  the  English  ranks,  were 
so  deadly  hostile  to  his  own  people.  Spurning  the  loath 
some  object  with  his  foot,  he  turned  from  it  with  the 
same  indifference  he  would  have  quitted  a  brute  carcass. 
The  scout  comprehended  the  action,  and  very  deliber 
ately  pursued  his  own  way,  continuing,  however,  his 
denunciations  against  the  French  commander  in  the 
same  resentful  strain. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  269 

"  Nothing  but  vast  wisdom  and  onlimited  power  should 
dare  to  sweep  off  men  in  multitudes,"  he  added ;  "  for 
it  is  only  the  one  that  can  know  the  necessity  of  the 
judgment;  and  what  is  there,  short  of  the  other,  that  can 
replace  the  creatures  of  tfje  Lord?  I  hold  it  a  sin  to 
kill  the  second  buck  afore  the  first  is  eaten,  unless  a 
march  in  the  front,  or  an  ambushment,  be  contemplated. 
It  is  a  different  matter  with  a  few  warriors  in  open  and 
rugged  fight,  for  'tis  their  gift  to  die  with  the  rifle  or 
the  tomahawk  in  hand;  according  as  their  natures  may 
happen  to  be,  white  or  red.  Uncas,  come  this  way,  lad, 
and  let  the  ravens  settle  upon  the  Mingo.  I  know,  from 
often  seeing  it,  that  they  have  a  craving  for  the  flesh 
of  an  Oneida ;  and  it  is  as  well  to  let  the  bird  follow  the 
gift  of  its  natural  appetite." 

"  Hugh !  "  exclaimed  the  young  Mohican,  rising  on 
the  extremities  of  his  feet,  and  gazing  intently  in  his 
front,  frightening  the  raven  to  some  other  prey  by  the 
sound  and  the  action. 

"  What  is  it,  boy  ?  "  whispered  the  scout,  lowering  his 
tall  form  into  a  crouching  attitude,  like  a  panther  about 
to  take  his  leap ;  "  God  send  it  be  a  tardy  Frencher, 
skulking  for  plunder.  I  do  believe  '  Killdeer '  would 
take  an  oncommon  range  to-day !  " 

Uncas,  without  making  any  reply,  bounded  away  from 
the  spot,  and  in  the  next  instant  he  was  seen  tearing 
from  a  bush,  and  waving  in  triumph,  a  fragment  of  the 
green  riding-veil  of  Cora.  The  movement,  the  exhibi 
tion,  and  the  cry,  which  again  burst  from  the  lips  of 
the  young  Mohican,  instantly  drew  the  whole  party 
about  him. 

"  My  child!  "  said  Munro,  speaking  quick  and  wildly; 
"  give  me  my  child !  " 


270  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Uncas  will  try,"  was  the  short  and  touching  answer. 

The  simple  but  meaning  assurance  was  lost  on  the 
father,  who  seized  the  piece  of  gauze,  and  crushed  it 
in  his  hand,  while  his  eyes  roamed  fearfully  among  the 
bushes,  as  if  he  equally  dreaded  and  hoped  for  the 
secrets  they  might  reveal. 

"  Here  are  no  dead,"  said  Heyward ;  "  the  storm  seems 
not  to  have  passed  this  way." 

"That's  manifest;  and  clearer  than  the  heavens  above 
our  heads,"  returned  the  undisturbed  scout ;  "  but  either 
she,  or  they  that  have  robbed  her,  have  passed  the  bush ; 
for  I  remember  the  rag  she  wore  to  hide  a  face  that  all 
did  love  to  look  upon.  Uncas,  you  are  right;  the  dark- 
hair  has  been  here,  and  she  has  fled  like  a  frightened 
fawn,  to  the  wood;  none  who  could  fly  would  remain  to 
be  murdered.  Let  us  search  for  the  marks  she  left;  for1 
to  Indian  eyes,  I  sometimes  think  even  a  humming-bird 
leaves  his  trail  in  the  air." 

The  young  Mohican  darted  away  at  the  suggestion, 
and  the  scout  had  hardly  done  speaking,  before  the  for 
mer  raised  a  cry  of  success  from  the  margin  of  the 
forest.  On  reaching  the  spot,  the  anxious  party  per 
ceived  another  portion  of  the  veil  fluttering  on  the  lower 
branch  of  a  beech. 

"  Softly,  softly,"  said  the  scout,  extending  his  long 
rifle  in  front  of  the  eager  Heyward ;  "  we  now  know  our 
work,  but  the  beauty  of  the  trail  must  not  be  deformed. 
A  step  too  soon  may  give  us  hours  of  trouble.  We 
have  them  though;  that  much  is  beyond  denial." 

"  Bless  ye,  bless  ye,  worthy  man!  "  exclaimed  Munro; 
"  whither,  then,  have  they  fled,  and  where  are  my 
babes?" 

"  The  path  they  have  taken  depends  on -many  chances. 


The  Last  of  the  -Mohicans  271 

If  they  have  gone  alone,  they  are  quite  as  likely  to  move 
in  a  circle  as  straight,  and  they  may  be  within  a  dozen 
miles  of  us;  but  if  the  Hurons,  or  any  of  the  French 
Indians,  have  laid  hands  on  them,  'tis  probable  they  are 
now  near  the  borders  of  the  Canadas.  But  what  matters 
that  ? "  continued  the  deliberate  scout,  observing  the 
powerful  anxiety  and  disappointment  the  listeners  ex 
hibited  ;  "  here  are  the  Mohicans  and  I  on  one  end  of 
the  trail,  and,  rely  on  it,  we  find  the  other,  though  they 
should  be  a  hundred  leagues  asunder!  Gently,  gently, 
Uncas,  you  are  as  impatient  as  a  man  in  the  settlements ; 
you  forget  that  light  feet  leave  but  faint  marks !  " 

"  Hugh !  "  exclaimed  Chingachgook,  who  had  been  oc 
cupied  in  examining  an  opening  that  had  been  evidently 
made  through  the  low  underbrush,  which  skirted  the 
forest ;  and  who  now  stood  erect,  as  he  pointed  down 
wards,  in  the  attitude  and  with  the  air  of  a  man  who 
beheld  a  disgusting  serpent. 

"  Here  is  the  palpable  impression  of  the  footstep  of  a 
man,"  cried  Heyward,  bending  over  the  indicated  spot; 
"  he  has  trod  in  the  margin  of  this  pool,  and  the  mark 
cannot  be  mistaken.  They  are  captives." 

"  Better  so  than  left  to  starve  in  the  wilderness,"  re 
turned  the  scout ;  "  and  they  will  leave  a  wider  trail.  I 
would  wager  fifty  beaver  skins  against  as  many  flints, 
that  the  Mohicans  and  I  enter  their  wigwams  within  the 
month !  Stoop  to  it,  Uncas,  and  try  what  you  can  make 
of  the  moccasin ;  for  moccasin  it  plainly  is,  and  no 
shoe." 

The  young  Mohican  bent  over  the  track,  and  removing 
the  scattered  leaves  from  around  the  place,  he  examined 
it  with  much  of  that  sort  of  scrutiny,  that  a  money- 
Dealer,  in  these  days  of  pecuniary  doubts,  would  bestow 


272     t          The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

on  a  suspected  due-bill.  At  length  he  arose  from  his 
knees,  satisfied  with  the  result  of  the  examination. 

"  Well,  boy,"  demanded  the  attentive  scout,  "  what 
does  it  say?  can  you  make  anything  of  the  tell 
tale?" 

"  Le  Renard  Subtil !  " 

"  Ha !  that  rampaging  devil  again !  there  never  will  be 
an  end  of  his  loping,  till  '  Killdeer '  has  said  a  friendly 
word  to  him." 

Heyward  reluctantly  admitted  the  truth  of  this  intel 
ligence,  and  now  expressed  rather  his  hopes  than  his 
doubts  by  saying, — 

"  One  moccasin  is  so  much  like  another,  it  is  prob 
able  there  is  some  mistake." 

"  One  moccasin  like  another !  you  may  as  well  say 
that  one  foot  is  like  another;  though  .we  all  know  that 
some  are  long,  and  others  short;  some  broad,  and  others 
narrow;  some  with  high,  and  some  with  low  insteps; 
some  in-toed,  and  some  out.  One  moccasin  is  no  more 
like  another  than  one  book  is  like  another;  though  they 
who  can  read  in  one  are  seldom  able  to  tell  the  -marks 
of  the  other.  Which  is  all  ordered  for  the  best,  giving 
to  every  man  his  natural  advantages.  Let  me  get  down 
to  it,  Uncas;  neither  book  nor  moccasin  is  the  woVse 
for  having  two  opinions,  instead  of  one."  The  scout 
stooped  to  the  task,  and  instantly  added,  "  You  are  right, 
boy;  here  is  the  patch  we  saw  so  often  in  the  other  cnase. 
And  the  fellow  will  drink  when  he  can  get  an  opportu 
nity:  your  drinking  Indian  always  learns  to  walk  with 
a  wider  toe  than  the  natural  savage,  it  being  the  gift  of 
a  drunkard  tp  straddle,  whether  of  white  or  red  skin. 
'Tis  just  the  length  and  breadth  too!  look  at  it,  Saga 
more:  you  measured  the  prints  more  than  once,  when 


1  Well,  boy,'  demanded  the  attentive  scout,  '  what  does  it 
say  ?    Can  you  make  anything  of  the  tell-tale  ?  '  "~Paae  272 


aye  272. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  273 

we  hunted  the  varmints  from  Glenn's  to  the  health- 
springs." 

Chingachgook  complied;  and  after  finishing  his  short 
examination,  he  arose,  and  with  a  quiet  demeanor,  he 
merely  pronounced  the  word— 

"  Magua !  " 

"  Aye,  'tis  a  settled  thing;  here  then  have  passed  the 
dark-hair  and  Magua." 

"And  not  Alice?"  demanded  Heyward. 

"Of  her  we  have  not  yet  seen  the  signs,"  returned  the 
scout,  looking  closely  ^around  at  the  trees,  the  bushes,  and 
the  ground.  "  What  have  we  there  ?  Uncas,  bring 
hither  the  thing  we  see  dangling  from  yonder  thorn- 
bush." 

When  the  Indian  had  complied,  the  scout  received  the 
prize,  and  holding  it  on  high,  he  laughed  in  his  silent  but 
heartfelt  manner. 

"  'Tis  the  tooting  we'pon  of  the  singer !  now  we  shall 
have  a  trail  a  priest  might  travel,"  he  said.  "  Uncas, 
look  for  the  marks  of  a  shoe  that  is  long  enough  to  up 
hold  six  feet  two  of  tottering  human  flesh.  I  begin  to 
have  some  hopes  of  the  fellow,  since  he  has  given  up 
squalling 'to  follow  some  better  trade." 

"  At  least,  he  has  been  faithful  to  his  trust,"  said  Hey 
ward  ;  "  and  Cora  and  Alice  are  not  without  a  friend." 

"  Yes,"  said  Ha,wkeye,  dropping  his  rifle,  and  leaning 
on  it  with  an  air  of  visible  contempt,  "  he  will  do  their 
singing.  Can  he  slay  a  buck  for  their  dinner;  journey 
by  the  moss  on  the  beeches,  or  cut  the  throat  of  a  Hu 
ron?  If  not,  the  first  catbird1  he  meets  is  the  cleverest 

JThe  powers  of  the  American  mocking-bird  are  generally 
known.  But  the  true  mocking-bird  is  not  found  so  far  north 
as  the  State  of  New  York,  where  it  has,  however,  two  substitutes 


274  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

of  the  two.  Well,  boy,  any  signs  of  such  a  founda 
tion?" 

"  Here  is  something  like  the  footstep  of  one  who  has 
worn  a  shoe ;  can  it  be  that  of  our  friend  ?  " 

"  Touch  the  leaves  lightly,  or  you'll  disconsart  the 
formation.  That!  that  is  the  print  of  a  foot,  but  'tis 
the  dark-hair's ;  and  small  it  is,  too,  for  one  of  such  a 
noble  height  and  grand  appearance.  The  singer  would 
cover  it  with  his  heel." 

"  Where !  let  me  look  on  the  footsteps  of  my  child," 
said  Munro,  shoving  the  bushes  aside,  and  bending 
fondly  over  the  nearly  obliterated  impression.  Though 
the  tread,  which  had  left  the  mark,  had  been  light  and 
rapid,  it  was  still  plainly  visible.  The  aged  soldier  ex 
amined  it  with  eyes  that  grew  dim  as  he  gazed ;  nor  did 
he  rise  from  his  stooping  posture  until  Heyward  saw 
that  he  had  watered  the  trace  of  his  daughter's  passage 
with  a  scalding  tear.  Willing  to  divert  a  distress  which 
threatened  each  moment  to  break  through  the  restraint 
of  appearances,  by  giving  the  veteran  something  to  do, 
the  young  man  said  to  the  scout, — 

"  As  we  now  possess  these  infallible  signs,  let  us  com 
mence  our  march.  A  moment,  at  such  a  time,  will  ap 
pear  an  age  to  the  captives." 

"  It  is  not  the  swiftest  leaping  deer  that  gives  the  long 
est  chase,"  returned  Hawkeye,  without  moving  his  eyes 
from  the  different  marks  that  had  come  under  his  view; 
"  we  know  that  the  rampaging  Huron  has  passed, — and 

of  inferior  excellence;  the  catbird,  so  often  named  by  the  scout, 
and  the  bird  vulgarly  called  ground-thresher.  Either  of  these 
two  last  birds  is  superior  to  the  nightingale,  or  the  lark,  though, 
in  general,  the  American  birds  are  less  musical  than  those  of 
Europe. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  275 

the  dark-hair, — and  the  singer, — but  where  is  she  of  the 
yellow  locks  and  blue  eyes?  Though  little,  and  far  from 
being  as  bold  as  her  sister,  she  is  fair  to  the  view,  and 
pleasant  in  discourse.  Has  she  no  friend,  that  none  care 
for  her?" 

"  God  forbid  she  should  ever  want  hundreds !  Are 
we  not  now  in  her  pursuit?  for  one,  I  will  never  cease 
the  search  till  she  be  found." 

"  In  that  case  we  may  have  to  journey  by  different 
paths;  for  here  she  has  not  passed,  light  and  little  as  her 
footstep  would  be." 

Heyward  drew  back,  all  his  ardor  to  proceed  seeming 
to  vanish  on  the  instant.  Without  attending  to  this  sud 
den  change  in  the  other's  humor,  the  scout,  after  musing 
a  moment,  continued, — 

"There  is  no  woman  in  this  wilderness  could  leave 
such  a  print  as  that,  but  the  dark-hair  or  her  sister.  We 
know  that  the  first  has  been  here,  but  where  are  the 
signs  of  the  other  ?  Let  us  push  deeper  on  the  trail,  and 
if  nothing  offers,  we  must  go  back  to  the  plain  and  strike 
another  scent.  Move  on,  Uncas,  and  keep  your  eyes  on 
the  dried  leaves.  I  will  watch  the  bushes,  while  your 
father  shall  run  with  a  low  nose  to  the  ground.  Move 
on,  friends;  the  sun  is  getting  behind  the  hills." 

"  Is  there  nothing  that  I  can  do  ? "  demanded  the 
anxious  Heyward. 

"  You !  "  repeated  the  scout,  who,,  with  his  red  friends, 
was  already  advancing  in  the  order  he  had  prescribed ; 
"  ves>  vou  can  keep  in  our  rear,  and  be  careful  not 
to  cross  the  trail." 

Before  they  had  proceeded  many  rods,  the  Indians 
stopped,  and  appeared  to  gaze  at  some  signs  on  the  earth, 
with  more  than  their  usual  keenness.  Both  father  and 


276  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

son  spoke  quick  and  loud,  now  looking  at  the  object  of 
their  mutual  admiration,  and  now  regarding  each  other 
with  the  most  unequivocal  pleasure. 

"  They  have  found  the  little  foot ! "  exclaimed  the 
scout,  moving  forward,  without  attending  further  to 
his  own  portion  of  the  duty.  "What  have  we  here? 
An  ambushment  has  been  planted  in  the  spot?  No,  by 
the  truest  rifle  on  the  frontiers,  here  have  been  them  one 
sided  horses  again !  Now  the  whole  secret  is  out,  and 
all  is  plain  as  the  north  star  at  midnight.  Yes,  here  they 
have  mounted.  There  the  beasts  have  been  bound  to  a 
sapling,  in  waiting ;  and  yonder  runs  the  broad  path  away 
to  the  north,  in  full  sweep  for  the  Canadas." 

"  But  still  there  are  no  signs  of  Alice — of  the  younger 
Miss  Munro," — said  Duncan. 

"  Unless  the  shining  bauble  Uncas  has  just  lifted  from 
the  ground  should  prove  one.  Pass  it  this  way,  lad, 
that  we  may  look  at  it." 

Heyward  instantly  knew  it  for  a  trinket  that  Alice  was 
fond  of  wearing,  and  which  he  recollected,  with  the 
tenacious  memory  of  a  lover,  to  have  seen,  on  the  fatal 
morning  of  the  massacre,  dangling  from  the  fair  neck 
of  his  mistress.  He  seized  the  highly  prized  jewel;  and 
as  he  proclaimed  the  fact,  it  vanished  from  the  eyes  of 
the  wondering  scout,  who  in  vain  looked  for  it  on  the 
ground,  long  after  it  was  warmly  pressed  against  the 
beating  heart  of  Duncan. 

"  Pshaw !  "  said  the  disappointed  Hawkeye,  ceasing  to 
rake  the  leaves  with  the  breech  of  his  rifle ;  "  'tis  a  cer 
tain  sign  of  age,  when  the  sight  begins  to  weaken.  Such 
a  glittering  gewgaw,  and  not  to  be  seen !  Well,  well,  - 
I  can  squint  along  a  clouded  barrel  yet,  and  that  is 
enough  to  settle  all  disputes  between  me  and  the  Mingos. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  277 

I  should  like  to  find  the  thing  too,  if  it  were  only  to 
carry  it  to  the  right  owner,  and  that  would  be  bring 
ing  the  two  ends  of  what  I  call  a  long  trail  together, — 
for  by  this  time  the  broad  St.  Lawrence,  or,  perhaps, 
the  Great  Lakes  themselves,  are  atwixt  us." 

"  So  much  the  more  reason  why  we  should  not  delay 
our  march,"  returned  Heyward ;  "  let  us  proceed." 

"  Young  blood  and  hot  blood,  they  say,  are  much  the 
same  thing.  We  are  not  about  to  start  on  a  squirrel 
hunt,  or  to  drive  a  deer  into  the  Horican,  but  to  outlie 
for  days  and  nights,  and  to  stretch  across  a  wilderness 
where  the  feet  of  men  seldom  go,  and  where  no  bookish 
knowledge  would  carry  you  through  harmless.  An  In 
dian  never  starts  on  such  an  expedition  without  smok 
ing  over  his  council-fire;  and  though  a  man  of  white 
blood,  I  honor  their  customs  in  this  particular,  seeing 
that  they  are  deliberate  and  wise.  We  will,  therefore,  go 
back,  and  light  our^fire  to-night  in  the  ruins  of  the  old 
fort,  and  in  the  morning  we  shall  be  fresh,  and  ready 
to  undertake  our  work  like  men,  and  not  like  babbling 
women  or  eager  boys." 

Heyward  saw,  by  the  manner  of  the  scout,  that  alter 
cation  would  be  useless.  Munro  had  again  sunk  into 
that  sort  of  apathy  which  had  beset  him  since  his  late 
overwhelming  misfortunes,  and  from  which  he  was  ap 
parently  to  be  roused  only  by  some  new  and  powerful 
excitement.  Making  a  merit  of  necessity,  the  young  man 
took  the  veteran  by  the  arm,  and  followed  in  the  foot 
steps  of  the  Indians  and  the  scout,  who  had  already  be 
gun  to  retrace  the  path  which  conducted  them  to  the 
plain. 


CHAPTER 

XIX. &   £   £ 


"  Salar. — Why,  I  am  sure,  if  he  forfeit,  thou  wilt  not  take  his 
flesh;  what's  that  good  for?" 

"Shy. — To  bait  fish  withal:  if  it  will  feed  nothing  else,  it  will 
feed  my  revenge." 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

f  I  ARE  shades  of  evening  had  come  to  increase  the 
JL  dreariness  of  the  place,  when  the  party  entered 
the  ruins  of  William  Henry.  The  scout  and  his  com 
panions  immediately  made  their  preparations  to  pass  the 
night  there;  but  with  an  earnestness  and  sobriety  of  de 
meanor,  that  betrayed  how  much  the  unusual  horrors 
they  had  just  witnessed  worked  on  even  their  practised 
feelings.  A  few  fragments  of  rafters  were  reared 
against  a  blackened  wall;  and  when  Uncas  had  covered 
them  slightly  with  brush,  the  temporary  accommoda 
tions  were  deemed  sufficient.  The  young  Indian  pointed 
towards  his  rude  hut,  when  his  labor  was  ended ;  and 
Hey  ward,  who  understood  the  meaning  of  the  silent 
gesture,  gently  urged  Munro  to  enter.  Leaving  the  be 
reaved  old  man  alone  with  his  sorrows,  Duncan  imme 
diately  returned  to*the  open  air,  too  much  excited  him- 

278 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  279 

self  to  seek  the  repose  he  had  recommended  to  his  vet 
eran  friend. 

While  Hawkeye  and  the  Indians  lighted  their  fire,  and 
took  their  evening's  repast,  a  frugal  meal  of  dried  bear's 
meat,  the  young  man  paid  a  visit  to  that  curtain  of  the 
dilapidated  fort  which  looked  out  on  the  sheet  of  the 
Horican.  The  wfnd  had  fallen,  and  the  waves  were 
already  rolling  on  the  sandy  beach  beneath  him,  in  a  more 
regular  and  tempered  succession.  The  clouds,  as  if  tired 
of  their  furious  chase,  were  breaking  asunder;  the  heav 
ier  volumes,  gathering  in  black  masses  about  the  horizon, 
while  the  lighter  scud  still  hurried  above  the  water,  or 
eddied  among  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  like  broken 
flights  of  birds,  hovering  around  their  roosts.  Here 
and  there,  a  red  and  fiery  star  struggled  through  the 
drifting  vapor,  furnishing  a  lurid  gleam  of  brightness 
to  the  dull  aspect  of  the  heavens.  Within  the  bosom  of 
the  encircling  hills,  an  impenetrable  darkness  had  already 
settled;  and  the  plain  lay  like  a  vast  and  deserted 
charnel-house,  without  omen  or  whisper  to  disturb  the 
slumbers  of  its  numerous  and  hapless  tenants. 

Of  this  scene,  so  chillingly  in  accordance  with  the  past, 
Duncan  stood  for  many  minutes  a  rapt  observer.  His 
eyes  wandered  from  the  bosom  of  the  mound,  where  the 
foresters  were  seated  around  their  glimmering  fire,  to 
the  fainter  light  which  stili  lingered  in  the  skies,  and 
then  rested  long  and  anxiously  on  the  embodied  gloom, 
which  lay  like  a  dreary  void  on  that  side  of  him  where 
the  dead  reposed.  He  soon  fancied  that  inexplicable 
sounds  arose  from  the  place,  though  so  indistinct  and 
stolen,  as  to  render  not  only  their  nature  but  even  their 
existence  uncertain.  Ashamed  of  his  apprehensions,  the 
young  man  turned  towards  the  water,  and  strove  to 


280  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

divert  his  attentions  to  the  mimic  stars  that  dimly 
glimmered  on  its  moving  surface.  Still,  his  too  con 
scious  ears  performed  their  ungrateful  duty,  as  if  to 
warn  him  of  some  lurking  danger.  At  length  a  swift 
trampling  seemed  quite  audibly  to  rush  athwart  the  dark 
ness.  Unable  any  longer  to  quiet  his  uneasiness,  Duncan 
spoke  in  a  low  voice  to  the  scout,  requesting  him  to 
ascend  the  mound  to  the  place  where  he  stood.  Hawk- 
eye  threw  his  rifle  across  an  arm,  and  complied,  but 
with  an  air  so  unmoved  and  calm,  as  to  prove  how  much 
he  counted  on  the  security  of  their  position! 

"  Listen !  "  said  Duncan,  when  the  other  placed  him 
self  deliberately  at  his  elbow :  "  there  are  suppressed 
noises  on  the  plain  which  may  show  that  Montcalm  has 
not  yet  entirely  deserted  his  conquest." 

"  Then  ears  are  better  than  eyes,"  said  the  undisturbed 
scout,  who,  having  just  deposited  a  portion  of  bear  be 
tween  his  grinders,  spoke  thick  and  slow,  like  one  whose 
mouth  was  doubly  occupied.  "  I,  myself,  saw  him  caged 
in  Ty,  with  all  his  host;  for  your  Frenchers,  when  they 
have  done  a  clever  thing,  like  to  get  back,  and  have  a 
dance,  or  a  merry-making,  with  the  women  over  their 
success." 

"  I  know  not.  An  Indian  seldom  sleeps  in  war,  and 
plunder  may  keep  a  Huron  here  after  his  tribe  has  de 
parted.  It  would  be  well  to  extinguish  the  fire,  and  have 
a  watch — listen !  you  hear  the  noise  I  mean !  " 

"  An  Indian  more  rarely  lurks  about  the  graves. 
Though  ready  to  slay,  and  not  over-regardful  of  the 
means,  he  is  commonly  content  with  the  scalp,  unless 
when  blood  is  hot,  and  temper  up;  but  after  the  spirit 
is  once  fairly  gone,  he  forgets  his  enmity,  and  is  will 
ing  to  let  the  dead  find  their  natural  rest.  Speaking 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  281 

of  spirits,  Major,  are  you  of  opinion  that  the  heaven 
of  a  redskin  and  of  us  whites  will  be  one  and  the 
same?" 

"  No  doubt — no  doubt.  I  thought  I  heard  it  again ! 
or  was  it  the  rustling  of  the  leaves  in  the  top  of  the 
beech?" 

"  For  my  own  part,"  continued  Hawkeye,  turning  his 
face,  for  a  moment,  in  the  direction  indicated  by  Hey- 
ward,  but  with  a  vacant  and  careless  manner,  "  I  be 
lieve  that  paradise  is  ordained  for  happiness ;  and  that 
men  will  be  indulged  in  it  according  to  their  dispositions 
and  gifts.  I  therefore  judge  that  a  redskin  is  not  far 
from  the  truth  when  he  believes  he  is  to  find  them  glori 
ous  hunting-grounds  of  which  his  traditions  tell ;  nor,  for 
that  matter,  do  I  think  it  would  be  any  disparagement  to 
a  man  without  a  cross  to  pass  his  time — 

"  You  hear  it  again  ?  "  interrupted  Duncan. 

"  Aye,  aye ;  when  food  is  scarce,  and  when  food  is 
plenty,  a  wolf  grows  bold,"  said  the  unmoved  scout. 
"  There  would  be  picking,  too,  among  the  skins  of  the 
devils,  if  there  was  light  and  time  for  the  sport.  But, 
concerning  the  life  that  is  to  come,  major:  I  have  heard 
preachers  say,  in  the  settlements,  that  heaven  was  a  place 
of  rest.  Now  men's  minds  differ  as  to  their,  ideas  of 
enjoyment.  For  myself,  and  I  say  it  with  reverence  to 
the  ordering  of  Providence,  it  would  be  no  great  indul 
gence  to  be  kept  shut  up  in  those  mansions  of  which 
they  preach,  having  a  natural  longing  for  motion  and  the 
chase." 

Duncan,  who  was  now  made  to  understand  the  nature 
of  the  noises  he  had  heard,  answered  with  more  atten 
tion  to  the  subject  which  the  humor  of  the  scout  had 
chosen  for  discussion,  by  saying, — 


282  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  It  is  difficult  to  account  for  the  feelings  that  may  at 
tend  the  last  great  change." 

"  It  would  be  a  change,  indeed,  for  a  man  who  has 
passed  his  days  in  the  open  air/'  returned  the  single- 
minded  scout;  "  and  who  has  so  often  broken  his  fast  on 
the  head-waters  of  the  Hudson,  to  sleep  within  sound  of 
the  roaring  Mohawk.  But  it  is  a  comfort  to  know  we 
serve  a  merciful  Master,  though  we  do  it  each  after  his 
fashion,  and  with  great  tracts  of  wilderness  atween  us— 
what  goes  there  ?  " 

"  Is  it  not  the  rushing  of  the  wolves  you  have  men 
tioned?" 

Hawkeye  slowly  shook  his  head,  and  beckoned  for 
Duncan  to  follow  him  to  a  spot,  to  which  the  glare  from 
the  fire  did  not  extend.  When  he  had  taken  this  precau 
tion,  the  scout  placed  himself  in  an  attitude  of  intense 
attention,  and  listened  long  and  keenly  for  a  repetition 
of  the  low  sound  that  had  so  unexpectedly  startled  him. 
His  vigilance,  however,  seemed  exercised  in  vain;  for, 
after  a  fruitless  pause,  he  whispered  to  Duncan, — 

"  We  must  give  a  call  to  Uncas.  The  boy  has  Indian 
senses,  and  may  hear  what  is  hid  from  us;  for  being  a 
white-skin,  I  will  not  deny  my  nature." 

The  young  Mohican,  who  was  conversing  in  a  low 
voice  with  his  father,  started  as  he  heard  the  moaning  of 
an  owl,  and  springing  on  his  feet  he  looked  towards  the 
black  mounds,  as  if  seeking  the  place  whence  the  sounds 
proceeded.  The  scout  repeated  the  call,  and  in  a  few 
moments,  Duncan  saw  the  figure  of  Uncas  stealing  cau 
tiously  along  the  rampart,  to  the  spot  where  they  stood. 

Hawkeye  explained  his  wishes  in  a  very  few  words, 
which  were  spoken  in  the  Delaware  tongue.  So  soon  as 
Uncas  was  in  possession  of  the  reason  why  he  was  sum- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  283 

moned,  he  threw  himself  flat  on  the  turf ;  where,  to  the 
eyes  of  Duncan,  he  appeared  to  lie  quiet  and  motionless. 
Surprised  at  the  immovable  attitude  of  the  young  war 
rior,  and  curious  to  observe  the  manner  in  which  he  em 
ployed  his  faculties  to  obtain  the  desired  information, 
Heyward  advanced  a  few  steps,  and  bent  over  the  dark 
object,  on  which  he  ha'd  kept  his  eyes  riveted.  Then  it 
was  he  discovered  that  the  form  of  Uncas  had  vanished, 
and  that  he  beheld  only  the  dark  outline  of  an  inequality 
in  the  embankment. 

"  What  has  become  of  the  Mohican  ?  "  he  demanded 
of  the  scout,  stepping  back  in  amazement ;  "  it  was  here 
that  I  saw  him  fall,  and  I  could  have  sworn  that  here 
he  yet  remained." 

"  Hist !  speak  lower ;  for  we  know  not  what  ears  are 
open,  and  the  Mingos  are  a  quick-witted  breed.  As  for 
Uncas,  he  is  out  on  the  plain,  and  the  Maquas,  if  any 
such  are  about  us,  will  find  their  equal." 

"  You  think  that  Montcalm  has  not  called  off  all  his 
Indians?  Let  us  give  the  alarm  to  our  companions,  that 
we  may  stand  to  our  arms.  Here  are  five  of  us,  who 
are  not  unused  to  meet  an  enemy." 

"  Not  a  word  to  either,  as  you  value  life.  Look  at 
the  Sagamore,  how  like  a  grand  Indian  chief  he  sits  by 
the  fire.  If  there  are  any  skulkers  out  in  the  darkness, 
they  will  never  discover  by  his  countenance  that  we  sus 
pect  danger  at  hand." 

"  But  they  may  discover  him,  and  it  will  prove  his 
death.  His  person  can  be  too  plainly  seen  by  the  light 
of  that  fire,  and  he  will  become  the  first  and  most  cer 
tain  victim." 

"  It  is  undeniable  that  now  you  speak  the  truth,"  re 
turned  the  scout,  betraying  more  anxiety  than  was  usual ; 


284  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  yet  what  can  be  done  ?  A  single  suspicious  look  might 
bring  on  an  attack  before  we  are  ready  to  receive  it. 
He  knows,  by  the  call  I  gave  to  Uncas,  that  we  have 
struck  a  scent:  I  will  tell  him  that  we  are  on  the  trail 
of  the  Mingos;  his  Indian  nature  will  teach  him  how 
to  act." 

The  scout  applied  his  fingers  to  his  mouth,  and  raised 
a  low  hissing  sound,  that  caused  Duncan,  at  first,  to  start 
aside,  believing  that  he  heard  a  serpent.  The  head  of 
Chingachgook  was  resting  on  a  hand,  as  he  sat  musing 
by  himself;  but  the  moment  he  heard  the  warning  of  the 
animal  whose  name  he  bore,  it  arose  to  an  upright  posi 
tion  and  his  dark  eyes  glanced  swiftly  and  keenly  on 
every  side  of  him.  With  this  sudden  and  perhaps  in 
voluntary  movement,  every  appearance  of  surprise  or 
alarm  ended.  His  rifle  lay  untouched,  and  apparently 
unnoticed,  within  reach  of  his  hand.  The  tomahawk  that 
he  had  loosened  in  his  belt  for  the  sake  of  ease,  was  even 
suffered  to  fall  from  its  usual  situation  to  the  ground, 
and  his  form  seemed  to  sink,  like  that  of  a  man  whose 
nerves  and  sinews  were  suffered  to  relax  for  the  purpose 
of  rest.  Cunningly  resuming  his  former  position,  though 
with  a  change  of  hands,  as  if  the  movement  had  been 
made  merely  to  relieve  the  limb,  the  native  awaited  the 
result  with  a  calmness  and  fortitude  that  none  but  an 
Indian  warrior  would  have  known  how  to  exercise. 

But  Heyward  saw  that  while  to  a  less  instructed  eye 
the  Mohican  chief  appeared  to  slumber,  his  nostrils  were 
expanded,  his  head  was  turned  a  little  to  one  side,  as  if 
to  assist  the  organs  of  hearing,  and  that  his  quirk  and 
rapid  glances  ran  incessantly  over  every  object,  within 
the  power  of  his  vision. 

"  See  the  noble  fellow !  "  whispered  Hawkeye,  press- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  285 

ing  the  arm  of  Heyward;  "he  knows  that  a  look  or  a 
motion  might  disconsart  our  schemes,  and  put  us  at 
the  mercy  of  them  imps — 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  flash  and  report  of  a  rifle. 
The  air  was  filled  with  sparks  of  fire  around  that  spot 
where  the  eyes  of  Heyward  were  still  fastened  with  ad 
miration  and  wonder.  A  second  look  told  him  that 
Chingachgook  had  disappeared  in  the  confusion.  In  the 
meantime  the  scout  had  thrown  forward  his  rifle,  like 
one  prepared  for  service,  and  awaited  impatiently  the 
moment  when  an  enemy  might  rise  to  view.  But  with 
the  solitary  and  fruitless  attempt  made  on  the  life  of 
Chingachgook,  the  attack  appeared  to  have  terminated. 
Once  or  twice  the  listeners  thought  they  could  distin 
guish  the  distant  rustling  of  bushes,  as  bodies  of  some 
unknown  description  rushed  through  them ;  nor  was  it 
long  before  Hawkeye  pointed  out  the  "  scampering  of  the 
wolves,"  as  they  fled  precipitately  before  the  passage  of 
some  intruder  on  their  proper  domains.  After  an  impa 
tient  and  breathless  pause,  a  plunge  was  heard  in  the 
water,  and  it  was  immediately  followed  by  the  report  of 
another  rifle. 

"  There  goes  Uncas !  "  said  the  scout ;  "  the  boy  bears 
a  smart  piece !  I  know  its  crack,  as  well  as  a  father 
knows  the  language  of  his  child,  for  I  carried  the  gun 
myself  until  a  better  offered." 

"  What  can  this  mean  ?  "  demanded  Duncan :  "  we  are 
watched,  and,  as  it  would  seem,  marked  for  destruction." 

"  Yonder  scattered  brand  can  witness  that  no  good 
was  intended,  and  this  Indian  will  testify  that  no  harm 
has  been  done,"  returned  the  scout,  dropping  his  rifle 
across  his  arm  again,  and  following  Chingachgook,  who 
just  then  reappeared  within  the  circle  of  light,  into  the 


286  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

bosom  of  the  works.  "How  is  it,  Sagamore?  Ate  the 
Mingos  upon  us  in  earnest,  or  is  it  only  one  of  those 
reptiles  who  hang  upon  the  skirts  of  a  war  party,  to  scalp 
the  dead,  go  in,  and  make  their  boast  among  the  squaws 
of  the  valiant  deeds  done  on  the  pale- faces  ?  " 

Chingachgook  very  quietly  resumed  his  seat;  nor  did 
he  make  any  reply,  until  after  he  had  examined  the  fire 
brand  which  had  been  struck  by  the  bullet  that  had  nearly 
proved  fatal  to  himself.  After  which,  he  was  content 
to  reply,  holding  a  single  finger  up  to  view,  with  the 
English  monosyllable, — 

"  One." 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  returned  Hawkeye,  seating  him 
self;  "and  as  he  had  got  the  cover  of  the  lake  afore 
Uncas  pulled  upon  him,  it  is  more  than  probable  the 
knave  will  sing  his  lies  about  some  great  ambushment, 
in  which  he  was  outlying  on  the  trail  of  two  Mohicans 
and  a  white  hunter — for  the  officers  can  be  considered 
as  little  better  than  idlers  in  such  a  skrimmage.  Well, 
let  him — let  him.  There  are  always  some  honest  men 
in  every  nation,  though  heaven  knows,  too,  that  they 
are  scarce  among  the  Maquas,  to  look  down  an  upstart 
when  he  brags  ag'in  the  face  of  reason.  The  varlet  sent 
his  lead  within  whistle  of  your  ears,  Sagamore." 

Chingachgook  turned  a  calm  and  incurious  eye  to 
wards  the  place  where  the  ball  had  struck,  and  then  re 
sumed  his  former  attitude,  with  a  composure  that  could 
not  be  disturbed  by  so  trifling  an  incident.  Just  then 
Uncas  glided  into  the  circle,  and  seated  himself  at  the 
fire,  with  the  same  appearance  of  indifference  as  was 
maintained  by  his  father. 

Of  these  several  movements  Heyward  was  a  deeply  in 
terested  and  wondering  observer.  It  appeared  to  him 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  287 

as  though  the  foresters  had  some  secret  means  of  in 
telligence,  which  had  escaped  the  vigilance  of  his  own 
faculties.  In  place  of  that  eager  and  garrulous  narra 
tion  with  which  a  white  youth  would  have  endeavored 
to  communicate,  and  perhaps  exaggerate,  that  which  had 
passed  out  in  the  darkness  of  the  plain,  the  young  war 
rior  was  seemingly  content  to  let  his  deeds  speak  for 
themselves.  It  was,  in  fact,  neither  the  moment  nor 
the  occasion  for  an  Indian  to  boast  of  his  exploits;  and 
it  is  probable,  that  had  Heyward  neglected  to  inquire, 
not  another  syllable  would,  just  then,  have  been  uttered 
on  the  subject. 

"  What  has  become  of  our  enemy,  Uncas  ?  "  demanded 
Duncan :  "  we  heard  your  rifle,  and  hoped  you  had  not 
fired  in  vain." 

The  young  chief  removed  a  fold  of  his  hunting-shirt, 
and  quietly  exposed  the  fatal  tuft  of  hair,  which  he  bore 
as  the  symbol  of  victory.  Chingachgook  laid  his  hand  on 
the  scalp,  and  considered  it  for  a  moment  with  deep  at 
tention.  Then  dropping  it,  with  disgust  depicted  in  his 
strong  features,  he  ejaculated, — 

"  Oneida !  " 

"  Oneida !  "  repeated  the  scout,  who  was  fast  losing 
his  interest  in  the  scene,  in  an  apathy  nearly  assimilated 
to  that  of  his  red  associates,  but  who  now  advanced  with 
uncommon  earnestness  to  regard  the  bloody  badge.  "  By 
the  Lord,  if  the  Oneidas  are  outlying  upon  the  trail,  we 
shall  be  flanked  by  devils  on  every  side  of  us !  Now,  to 
white  eyes  there  is  no  difference  between  this  bit  of  skin 
and  that  of  any  other  Indian,  and  yet  the  Sagamore  de 
clares  it  came  from  the  poll  of  a  Mingo ;  nay,  he  even 
names  the  tribe  of  the  poor  devil  with  as  much  ease  as 
if  the  scalp  was  the  leaf  of  a  book,  and  each  hair  a  let- 


288  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

ter.  What  right  have  Christian  whites  to  boast  of  their 
learning,  when  a  savage  can  read  a  language  that  would 
prove  too  much  for  the  wisest  of  them  all !  What  say 
you,  lad;  of  what  people  was  the  knave?  " 

Uncas  raised  his  eyes  to  the  face  of  the  scout,  and  an 
swered,  in  his  soft  voice, — 

"  Oneida." 

"  Oneida,  again !  when  one  Indian  makes  a  declara 
tion  it  is  commonly  true;  but  when  he  is  supported  by 
his  people,  set  it  down  as  gospel !  " 

"  The  poor  fellow  has  mistaken  us  for  French,"  said 
Heyward ;  "  or  he  would  not  have  attempted  the  life  of 
a  friend." 

"  He  mistake  a  Mohican  in  his  paint  for  a  Huron ! 
You  would  be  as  likely  to  mistake  the  white-coated 
grenadiers  of  Montcalm  for  the  scarlet  jackets  of  the 
'  Royal  Americans/  "  returned  the  scout.  "  No,  no,  the 
sarpent  knew  his  errand;  nor  was  there  any  great  mis 
take  in  the  matter,  for 'there  is  but  little  love  atween  a 
Delaware  and  a  Mingo,  let  their  tribes  go  out  to  fight  for 
whom  they  may,  in  a  white  quarrel.  For  that  matter, 
though  the  Oneidas  do  serve  his  sacred  majesty,  who 
is  my  own  sovereign  lord  and  master,  I  should  not  have 
deliberated  long  about  letting  off  '  Killdeer '  at  the  imp 
myself,  had  luck  thrown  him  in  my  way." 

:<  That  would  have  been  an  abuse  of  our  treaties,  and 
unworthy  of  your  character." 

"  When  a  man  consorts  much  with  a  people,"  con 
tinued  Hawkeye,  "  if  they  are  honest  and  he  no  knave, 
love  will  grow  up  atwixt  them.  It  is  true  that  white 
cunning  has  managed  to  throw  the  tribes  into  great  con 
fusion  as  respects  friends  and  enemies;  so  that  the 
Hurons  and  the  Oneidas,  who  speak  the  same  tongue, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  289 

or  what  may  be  called  the  same,  take  each  other's  scalps, 
and  the  Delawares  are  divided  among  themselves;  a  few 
hanging  about  their  great  council-fire  on  their  own  river, 
and  fighting  on  the  same  side  with  the  Mingos,  while 
the  greater  part  are  in  the  Canadas,  out  of  natural 
enmity  to  the  Maquas — thus  throwing  everything  into 
disorder,  and  destroying  all  the  harmony  of  warfare. 
Yet  a  red  natur'  is  not  likely  to  alter  with  every  shift 
of  policy ;  so  that  the  love  atwixt  a  Mohican  and  a  Mingo 
is  much  like  the  regard  between  a  white  man  and  a 
sarpent." 

"  I  regret  to  hear  it ;  for  I  had  believed  those  natives 
who  dwelt  within  our  boundaries  had  found  us  too  just 
and  liberal,  not  to  identify  themselves  fully  with  our 
quarrels." 

"  Why,  I  believe  it  is  natur'  to  give  a  preference  to 
one's  own  quarrels  before  those  of  strangers.  Now,  for 
myself,  I  do  love  justice;  and  therefore  I  will  not  say 
I  hate  a  Mingo,  for  that  may  be  unsuitable  to  my  color 
and  my  religion,  though  I  will  just  repeat,  it  may  have 
been  owing  to  the  night  that  '  Killdeer '  had  no  hand  in 
the  death  of  this  skulking  Oneida." 

Then,  as  if  satisfied  with  the  force  of  his  own  rea 
sons,  whatever  might  be  their  effect  on  the  opinions  of 
the  other  disputant,  the  honest  but  implacable  woodsman 
turned  from  the  fire,  content  to  let  the  controversy  slum 
ber.  Heyward  withdrew  to  the  rampart,  too  uneasy  and 
too  little  accustomed  to  the  warfare  of  the  woods  to  re 
main  at  ease  under  the  possibility  of  such  insidious 
attacks.  Not  so,  however,  with  the  scout  and  the  Mo 
hicans.  Those  acute  and  long  practised  senses,  whose 
powers  so  often  exceed  the  limits  of  all  ordinary 
credulity,  after  having  detected  the  danger,  had  enabled 


290  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

them  to  ascertain  its  magnitude  and  duration.  Not  one 
of  the  three  appeared  in  the  least  to  doubt  their  per 
fect  security,  as  was  indicated  by  the  preparations  that 
were  soon  made  to  sit  in  council  over  their  future 
proceedings. 

The  confusion  of  nations,  and  even  of  tribes,  to  which 
Hawkeye  alluded,  existed  at  that  period  in  the  fullest 
force.  The  great  tie  of  language,  and,  of  course,  of  a 
common  origin,  was  severed  in  many  places ;  and  it  was 
one  of  its  consequences,  that  the  Delaware  and  the  Mingo 
(as  the  people  of  the  Six  Nations  were  called)  were 
found  fighting  in  the  same  ranks,  while  the  latter  sought 
the  scalp  of  the  Huron,  though  believed  to  be  the  root 
of  his  own  stock.  The  Delawares  were  even  divided 
among  themselves.  Though  love  for  the  soil  which  had 
belonged  to  his  ancestors  kept  the  Sagamore  of  the  Mo 
hicans  with  a  small  band  of  followers  who  were  serving 
at  Edward,  under  the  banners  of  the  English  king,  by 
far  the  largest  portion  of  his  nation  were  known  to  be 
in  the  field  as  allies  of  Montcalm.  The  reader  probably 
knows,  if  enough  has  not  already  been  gleaned  from  this 
narrative,  that  the  Delaware,  or  Lenape,  claimed  to  be 
the  progenitors  of  that  numerous  people,  who  once  were 
masters  of  most  of  the  Eastern  and  Northern  States  of 
America,  of  whom  the  community  of  the  Mohicans  was 
an  ancient  and  highly  honored  member. 

It  was,  of  course,  with  a  perfect  understanding  of  the 
minute  and  intricate  interest  which  had  armed  friend 
against  friend,  and  brought  natural  enemies  to  combat 
by  each  other's  side,  that  the  scout  and  his  companions 
now  disposed  themselves  to  deliberate  on  the  measures 
that  were  to  govern  their  future  movements,  amid  so 
many  jarring  and  savage  races  of  men.  Duncan  knew 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  291 

enough  of  Indian  customs  to  understand  the  reason  that 
the  fire  was  replenished,  and  why  the  warriors,  not  ex 
cepting  Hawkeye,  took  their  seats  within  the  curl  of 
its  smoke  with  so  much  gravity  and  decorum.  Plac 
ing  himself  at  an  angle  of  the  works,  where  he  might 
be  a  spectator  of  the  scene  within,  while  he  kept 
a  watchful  eye  against  any  danger  from  without,  he 
awaited  the  result  with  as  much  patience  as  he  could 
summon. 

After  a  short  and  impressive  pause,  Chingachgook 
lighted  a  pipe  whose  bowl  was  curiously  carved  in  one 
of  the  soft  stones  of  the  country,  and  whose  stem  was 
a  tube  of  wood,  and  commenced  smoking.  When  he  had 
inhaled  enough  of  the  fragrance  of  the  soothing  weed, 
he  passed  the  instrument  into  the  hands  of  the  scout. 
In  this  manner  the  pipe  had  made  its  rounds  three  sev 
eral  times,  amid  the  most  profound  silence,  before  either 
of  the  party  opened  his  lips.  Then  the  Sagamore,  as  the 
oldest  and  highest  in  rank,  in  a  few  calm  and  dignified 
words,  proposed  the  subject  for.  deliberation.  He  was 
answered  by  the  scout;  and  Chingachgook  rejoined, 
when  the  other  objected  to  his  opinions.  But  the  youth 
ful  Uncas  continued  a  silent  and  respectful  listener,  until 
Hawkeye,  in  complaisance,  demanded  his  opinion.  Hey- 
ward  gathered  from  the  manners  of  the  different  speak 
ers,  that  the  father  and  son  espoused  one  side  of  a 
disputed  question,  while  the  white  man  maintained  the 
other.  The  contest  gradually  grew  warmer,  until  it  was 
quite  evident  the  feelings  of  the  speakers  began  to  be 
somewhat  enlisted  in  the  debate. 

Notwithstanding  the  increasing  warmth  of  the  ami 
cable  contest,  the  most  decorous  Christian  assembly,  not 
even  excepting  those  in  which  its  reverend  ministers 


292  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

are  collected,  might  have  learned  a  wholesome  lesson  of 
moderation  from  the  forbearance  and  courtesy  of  the 
disputants.  The  words  of  Uncas  were  received  with 
the  same  deep  attention  as  those  which  fell  from  the 
maturer  wisdom  of  his  father;  and  so  far  from  mani 
festing  any  impatience,  neither  spoke  in  reply,  imtil  a 
few  moments  oL  silent  meditation  were,  seemingly,  be 
stowed  in  deliberating  on  what  had  already  been  said. 

The  language  of  the  Mohicans  was  accompanied  by 
gestures  so  direct  and  natural,  that  Heyward  had  but 
little  difficulty  in  following  the  thread- of  their  argument. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  scout  was  obscure ;  because,  from 
the  lingering  pride  of  color,  he  rather  affected  the  cold 
and  artificial  manner  which  characterizes  all  classes  'of, 
Anglo-Americans,  when  unexcited.  By  the  frequency 
with  which  the  Indians  described  the  marks  of  a  forest 
trail,  it  was  evident  they  urged  a  pursuit  by  land,  while 
the  repeated  sweep  of  Hawkeye's  arm  towards  the 
Horican  denoted  that  he  was  for  a  passage  across  its 
waters. 

The  latter  was,  to  every  appearance,  fast  losing  ground, 
and  the  point  was  about  to  be  decided  against  him,  when 
he  arose  to  his  feet,  and  shaking  off  his  apathy,  he  sud 
denly  assumed  the  manner  of  an  Indian,  and  adopted  all 
the  art  of  native  eloquence.  Elevating  an  arm,  he 
pointed  out  the  track  of  the  sun,  repeating  the  gesture 
for  every  day  that  was  necessary  to  accomplish  their 
object.  Then  he  delineated  a  long  and  painful  path,  amid 
rocks  and  water-courses.  The  age  and  weakness  of  the 
slumbering  and  unconscious  Munro  were  indicated  by 
signs  too  palpable  to  be  mistaken.  Duncan  perceived  that 
even  his  own  powers  were  spoken  lightly  of,  as  the  scout 
extended  his  palm,  and  mentioned  him  by  the  appella- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  293 

tion  of  the  "  Open  Hand," — a  name  his  liberality  had 
purchased  of  all  the  friendly  tribes.  Then  came  a  repre 
sentation  of  the  light  and  graceful  movements  of  a  canoe, 
set  in  forcible  contrast  to  the  tottering  steps  of  one  en-, 
feebled  and  tired.  He  concluded  by  pointing  to  the  scalp 
of  the  Oneida,  and  apparently  urging  the  necessity  of 
their  departing  speedily,  and  in  a  manner  that  should 
leave  no  trail. 

The  Mohicans  listened  gravely,  and  with  countenances 
that  reflected  the  sentiments  of  the  speaker.  Conviction 
gradually  wrought  its  influence,  and  towards  the  close  of 
Hawkeye's  speech,  his  sentences  were  accompanied  by 
the  customary  exclamation  of  commendation.  In  short, 
Uncas  and  his  father  became  converts  to  his  way  of 
thinking,  abandoning  their  own  previously  expressed 
opinions  with  a  liberality  and  candor  that,  had  they  been 
the  representatives  of  some  great  and  civilized  people, 
would  have  infallibly  worked  their  political  ruin,  by  de 
stroying,  forever,  their  reputation  for  consistency. 

The  instant  the  matter  in  discussion  was  decided,  the 
debate,  and  everything  connected  with  it,  except  the 
result,  appeared  to  be  forgotten.  Hawkeye,  without 
looking  round  to  read  his  triumph  in  applauding  eyes, 
very  composedly  stretched  his  tall  frame  before  the  dying 
embers,  and  closed  his  own  organs  in  sleep. 

Left  now  in  a  measure  to  themselves,  the  Mohicans, 
whose  time  had  been  so  much  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  others,  seized  the  moment  to  devote  some  attention 
to  themselves.  Casting  off,  at  once,  the  grave  and  aus 
tere  demeanor  of  an  Indian  chief,  Chingachgook  com 
menced  speaking  to  his  son  in  the  soft  and  playful  tones 
|  of  affection.  Uncas  gladly  met  the  familiar  air  of  his 
father;  and  before  the  hard  breathing  of  the  scout  an- 


294  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

nounced  that  he  slept,  a  complete  change  was  effected  in 
the  manner  of  his  two  associates. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  music  of  their  language, 
while  thus  engaged  in  laughter  and  endearments,  in  such 
•a  way  as  to  render  it  intelligible  to  those  whose  ears  have 
never  listened  to  its  melody.  The  compass  of  their 
voices,  particularly  that  of  the  youth,  was  wonderful,— 
extending  from  the  deepest  bass  to  tones  that  were  even 
feminine  in  softness.  The  eyes  of  the  father  followed 
the  plastic  and  ingenious  movements  of  the  son  with  open 
delight,  and  he  never  failed  to  smile  in  reply  to  the 
other's  contagious,  but  low  laughter.  While  under  the 
influence  of  these  gentle  and  natural  feelings,  no  trace 
of  ferocity  was  to  be  seen  in  the  softened  features  of  the 
Sagamore.  His  figured  panoply,  of  death  looked  more 
like  a  disguise  assumed  in  mockery,  than  a  fierce  an 
nunciation  of  a  desire  to  carry  destruction  in  his  foot 
steps. 

After  an  ho'ur  passed  in  the  indulgence  of  their  better 
feelings,  Chingachgook  abruptly  announced  his  desire  to 
sleep,  by  wrapping  his  head  in  his  blanket,  and  stretching 
his  form  on  the  naked  earth.  The  merriment  of  Uncas 
instantly  ceased ;  and  carefully  raking  the  coals  in  such 
a  manner  that  they  should  impart  their  warmth  to  his 
father's  feet,  the  youth  sought  his  own  pillow  among  the 
ruins  of  the  place. 

Imbibing  renewed  confidence  from  the  security  of 
these  experienced  foresters,  Heyward  soon  imitated  their 
example ;  and  long  before  the  night  had  turned,  they  who 
lay  in  the  bosom  of  the  ruined  work,  seemed  to  slumber 
as  heavily  as  the  unconscious  multitude  whose  bones 
were  already  beginning  to  bleach  on  the  surrounding 
plain. 


CHAPTER 
XX.    g 


"  Land  of  Albania !  let  me  bend  mine  eyes 
On  thee,  thou  rugged  nurse  of  savage  men !  " 

Cliilde  Harold. 

f  I AHE  heavens  were  still  studded  with  stars,  when 
J_  Hawkeye  came  to  arouse  the  sleepers.  Casting 
aside  their  cloaks  Munro  and  Heyward*  were  on  their 
feet  while  the  woodsman  was  still  making  his  low  calls, 
at  the  entrance  of  the  rude  shelter  where  they  had  passed 
the  night.  When  they  issued  from  beneath  its  conceal 
ment,  they  found  the  scout  awaiting  their  appearance 
nigh  by,  and  the  only  salutation  between  them  was  the 
significant  gesture  for  silence,  made  by  their  sagacious 
leader. 

"  Think  over  your  prayers,"  he  whispered,  as  they, 
approached  him ;  "  for  He  to  whom  you  make  them 
knows  all  tongues;  that  of  the  heart  as  well  as  those 
of  the  mouth.  But  speak  not  a  syllable ;  it  is  rare  for  a 
white  voice  to  pitch  itself  properly  in  the  woods,  as  we 
have  seen  by  the  example  of  that  miserable  devil,  the 
singer.  Come,"  he  continued,  turning  towards  a  curtain 
of  the  works ;  "  let  us  get  into  the  ditch  on  this  side, 

295 


296  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  be  regardful  to  step  on  the  stones  and  fragments  of 
wood  as  you  go." 

His  companions  complied,  though  to  two  of  them  the 
reasons  of  this  extraordinary  precaution  were  yet  a  mys 
tery.  When  they  were  in  the  low  cavity  that  surrounded 
the  earthen  fort  on  three  sides,  they  found  the  passage 
nearly  choked  by  the  ruins.  With  care  and  patience, 
however,  they  succeeded  in  clambering  after  the  scout, 
until  they  reached  the  sandy  shore  of  the  Horican. 

"  That's  a  trail  that  nothing  but  a  nose  can  follow," 
said  the  satisfied  scout,  looking  back  along  their  difficult 
way ;  "  grass  is  a  treacherous  carpet  for  a  flying  party 
to  tread  on,  but  wood  and  stone  take  no  print  from  a 
moccasin.  Had  you  worn  your  armed  boots,  there 
might,  indeed,  have  been  something  to  fear;  but  with 
the  deer-skin  suitably  prepared,  a  man  may  trust  him 
self,  generally,  on  rocks  with  safety.  Shove  in  the  canoe 
nigher  to  the  land,  Uncas;  this  sand  will  take  a  stamp 
as  easily  as  the  butter  of  the  Jarmans  on  the  Mohawk. 
Softly,  lad,  softly;  it  must  not  touch  the  beach,  or 
the  knaves  will  know  by  what  road  we  have  left  the 
place." 

The  young  man  observed  the  precaution;  and  the 
scout,  laying  a  board  from  the  ruins  to  the  canoe,  made  a 
sign  for  the  two  officers  to  enter.  When  this  was  done, 
everything  was  studiously  restored  to  its  former  dis 
order  ;  and  then  Hawkeye  succeeded  in  reaching  his  little 
birchen  vessel,  without  leaving  behind  him  any  of  those 
marks  which  he  appeared  so  much  to  dread.  Heyward 
was  silent,  until  the  Indians  had  cautiously  paddled  the 
canoe  some  distance  from  the  fort,  and  within  the  broad 
and  dark  shadow  that  fell  from  the  eastern  mountain  on 
the  glassy  surface  of  the  lake;  then  he  demanded, — 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  297 

"  What  need  have  we  for  this  stolen  and  hurried  de 
parture  ?  " 

"  If  the  blood  of  an  Oneida  could  stain  such  a  sheet  of 
pure  water  as  this  we  float  on/'  returned  the  scout,  "  your 
two  eyes  would  answer  your  own  question.  Have  you 
forgotten  the  skulking  reptile  that  Uncas  slew  ?  " 

"  By  no  means.  But  he  was  said  to  be  alone,  and  dead 
men  give  no  cause  for  fear." 

"  Aye,  he  was  alone  in  his  deviltry !  but  an  Indian 
whose  tribe  counts  so  many  warriors,  need  seldom  fear 
his  blood  will  run,  without  the  death-shriek  coming 
speedily  from  some  of  his  enemies." 

"  But  our  presence — the  authority  of  Colonel  Munro — 
would  prove  a  sufficient  protection  against  the  anger  of 
our  allies,  especially  in  a  case  where  a  wretch  so  well 
.merited  his  fate.  I  trust  in  Heaven  you  have  not  devi 
ated  a  single  foot  from  the  direct  line  of  our  course,  with 
so  slight  a  reason !  " 

"  Do  you  think  the  bullet  of  that  varlet's  rifle  would 
have  turned  aside,  though  his  majesty  the  king  had  stood 
in  its  path  ?  "  returned  the  stubborn  scout.  "  Why  did 
not  the  grand  Frencher,  he  who  is  captain-general  of 
the  Canadas,  bury  the  tomahawks  of  the  Hurons,  if  a 
word  from  a  white  can  work  so  strongly  on  the  natur' 
of  an  Indian?  " 

The  reply  of  Heyward  was  interrupted  by  a  groan 
from  Munro;  but  after  he  had  paused  a  moment,  in 
deference  to  the  sorrow  of  his  aged  friend,  he  resumed 
the  subject. 

"  The  Marquis  of  Montcalm  can  only  settle  that  error 
with  his  God,"  said  the  young  man  solemnly. 

"  Aye,  aye ;  now  there  is  reason  in  your  words,  for  they 
are  bottomed  on  religion  and  honesty.  There  is  a  vast 


298  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

difference  between  throwing  a  regiment  of  white  coats 
atwixt  the  tribes  and  the  prisoners,  and  coaxing  an  angry 
savage  to  forget  he  carries  a  knife  and  a  rifle,  with  words 
that  must  begin  with  calling  him  your  son.  No,  no," 
continued  the  scout,  looking  back  at  the  dim  shore  of 
William  Henry,  which  was  now  fast  receding,  and  laugh 
ing  in  his  own  silent  but  heartfelt  manner ;  "  I  have  put 
a  trail  of  water  atween  us ;  and  unless  the  imps  can  make 
friends  with  the  fishes,  and  hear  who  has  paddled  across 
their  basin,  this  fine  morning,  we  shall  throw  the  length 
of  the  Horican  behind  us,  before  they  have  made  up  their 
minds  which  path  to  take." 

"  With  foes  in  front,  and  foes  in  our  rear,  our  jour 
ney  is  like  to  be  one  of  danger." 

"  Danger !  "  repeated  Hawkeye,  calmly ;  "  no,  not  ab 
solutely  of  danger ;  for,  with  vigilant  ears  and  quick  eyes, 
we  can  manage  to  keep  a  few  hours  ahead  of  the  knaves ; 
or,  if  we'  must  try  the  rifle,  there  are  three  of  us  who 
understand  its  gifts  as  well  as  any  you  can  name  on  the 
borders.  No,  not  of  danger;  but  that  we  shall  have 
what  you  may  call  a  brisk  push  of  it,  is  probable ;  and 
it  may  happen,  a  brush,  a  skrimmage,  or  some  such 
divarsion,  but  always  where  covers  are  good,  and  ammu 
nition  abundant." 

It  is  possible  that  Heyward's  estimate  of  danger  dif 
fered  in  some  degree  from  that  of  the  scout,  for  instead 
of  replying,  he  now  sat  in  silence,  while  the  canoe  glided 
over  several  miles  of  water.  Just  as  the  day  dawned, 
they  entered  the  narrows  of  the  lake,1  and  stole  swiftly 

JThe  beauties  of  Lake  George  are  well  known  to  every 
American  tourist.  In  the  height  of  the  mountains  which  surround 
it,  and  in  artificial  accessories,  it  is  inferior  to  the  finest  of 
the  Swiss  and  Italian  lakes,  while  in  outline  and  purity  of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  299 

and  cautiously  among  their  numberless  little  islands.  It 
was  by  this  road  that  Montcalm  had  retired  with  his 
army;  and  the  adventurers  knew  not  but  he  had  -left 
some  of  his  Indians  in  ambush,  to  protect  the  rear  of 
his  forces,  and  collect  the  stragglers.  They,  therefore", 
approached  the  passage  with  the  customary  silence  of 
their  guarded  habits. 

Chingachgook  laid  aside  his  paddle;  while  Uncas  and 
the  scout  urged  the  light  vessel  through  crooked  and  in 
tricate  channels,  where  every  foot  that  they  advanced 
exposed  them  to  the  danger  of  some  sudden  rising  on 
their  progress.  The  eyes  of  the  Sagamore  moved  warily 
from  islet  to  islet,  and  copse  to  copse,  as  the  canoe  pro 
ceeded;  and  when  a  clearer  sheet  of  water  permitted, 
his  keen  vision  was  bent  along  the  bald  rocks  and  impend 
ing  forests,  that  frowned  upon  the  narrow  strait. 

Heyward,  who  was  a  doubly  interested  spectator,  as 
well  from  the  beauties  of  the  place  as  from  the  appre 
hension  natural  to  his  situation,  was  just  believing  that 

water  it  is  fully  their  equal;  and  in  the  number  and  disposition 
of  its  isles  and  islets  much  superior  to  them  all  together.  There 
are  said  to  be  some  hundreds  of  islands  in  a  sheet  of  water 
less  than  thirty  miles  long.  The  narrows  which  connect  what 
may  be  called,  in  truth,  two  lakes,  are  crowded  with  islands  to 
such  a  degree  as  to  leave  passages  between  them  frequently  of 
only  a  few  feet  in  width.  The  lake  itself  varies  in  breadth  from, 
one  to  three  miles. 

The  State  of  New  York  is  remarkable  for  the  number  and 
beauty  of  its  lakes.  One  of  its  frontiers  lies  on  the  vast  sheet 
of  Ontario,  while  Champlain  stretches  nearly  a  hundred  miles 
along  another.  Oneida,  Cayuga,  Canandaigua,  Seneca,  and 
George,  are  all  lakes  of  thirty  miles  in  length,  while  those  of  a  t 
size  smaller  are  without  number.  On  most  of  these  lakes  there 
are  now  beautiful  villages,  and  on  many  of  them  steamboats. 


300  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

he  had  permitted  the  latter  to  be  excited  without  suffi 
cient  reason,  when  the  paddle  ceased  moving,  in  obedi 
ence  to  a  signal  from  Chingachgook. 

"  Hugh !  "  exclaimed  Uncas,  nearly  at  the  moment 
that  the  light  tap  his  father  had  made  on  the  side  of  the 
canoe  notified  them  of  the  vicinity  of  danger. 

"  What  now  ?  "  asked  the  scout ;  "  the  lake  is  as  smooth 
as  if  the  winds  had  never  blown,  and  I  can  see  along  its 
sheet  for  miles ;  there  is  not  so  much  as  the  black  head 
of  a  loon  dotting  the  water." 

The  Indian  gravely  raised  his  paddle,  and  pointed  in 
the  direction  in  which  his  own  steady  look  was  riveted. 
Duncan's  eyes  followed  the  motion.  A  few  rods  in  their 
front  lay  another  of  the  low  wooded  islets,  but  it  ap 
peared  as  calm  and  peaceful  as  if  its  solitude  had  never 
been  disturbed  by  the  foot  of  man. 

"  I  see  nothing,"  he  said,  "  but  land  and  water ;  and  a 
lovely  scene  it  is." 

"  Hist !  "  interrupted  the  scout.  "  Aye,  Sagamore, 
there  is  always  a  reason  for  what  you  do.  Tis  but  a 
shade,  and  yet  it  is  not  natural.  You  see  the  mist,  Major, 
that  is  rising  about  the  island;  you  can't  call  it  a  fog, 
for  it  is  more  like  a  streak  of  thin  cloud — 

"  It  is  vapor  from  the  water." 

"  That  a  child  could  tell.  But  what  is  the  edging  of 
blacker  smoke  that  hangs  along  its  lower  side,  and  which 
you  may  trace  down  into  the  thicket  of  hazel  ?  'Tis  from 
a  fire;  but  one  that,  in  my  judgment,  has  been  suffered 
to  burn  low." 

"  Let  us  then  push  for  the  place,  and  relieve  our 
doubts,"  said  the  impatient  Duncan ;  "  the  party  must- 
be  small  that  can  lie  on  such  a  bit  of  land." 

"  If  you  judge  of   Indian  cunning  by  the   rules  you 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  301 

find  in  books,  or  by  white  sagacity,  they  will  lead  you 
astray,  if  not  to  your  death,"  returned  Hawkeye,  ex 
amining  the  signs  of  the  place  with  that  acuteness  which 
distinguished  him.  "  If  I  may  be  permitted  to  speak  in 
this  matter,  it  will  be  to  say,  that  we  have  but  two  things 
to  choose  between :  the  one  is,  to  return,  and  give  up  all 
thoughts  of  following  the  Hurons — 

"  Never !  "  exclaimed  Heyward,  in  a  voice  far  too  loud 
for  their  circumstances. 

"  Well,  well,"  continued  Hawkeye,  making  a  hasty 
sign  to  repress  his  impatience ;  "  I  am  much  of  your  mind 
myself;  though  I  thought  it  becoming  my  experience  to 
tell  the  whole.  We  must  then  make  a  push,  and  if  the 
Indians  or  Frenchers  are  in  the  narrows,  run  the  gauntlet 
through  these  toppling  mountains.  Is  there  reason  in  my 
words,  Sagamore?" 

The  Indian  made  no  other  answer  than  by  dropping 
his  paddle  into  the  water,  and  urging  forward  the  canoe. 
As  he  held  the  office  of  directing  its  course,  his  resolu 
tion  was  sufficiently  indicated  by  the  movement.  The 
whole  party  now  plied  their  paddles  vigorously,  and  in 
a  very  few  moments  they  had  reached  a  point  whence 
they  might  command  an  entire  view  of  the  northern 
shore  of  the  island,  the  side  that  had  hitherto  been 
concealed. 

"  There  they  are,  by  all  the  truth  of  signs,"  whispered 
the  scout ;  "  two  canoes  and  a  smoke.  The  knaves  haven't 
yet  got  their  eyes  out  of  the  mist,  or  we  should  hear 
the  accursed  whoop.  Together,  friends !  we  are  leaving 
them,  and  are  already  nearly  out  of  whistle  of  a  bullet." 

The  well-known  crack  of  a  rifle,  whose  ball  came  skip 
ping  along  the  placid  surface  of  the  strait,  and  a  shrill 
yell  from  the  island,  interrupted  his  speech,  and  an- 


302  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

nounced  that  their  passage  was  discovered.  In  another 
instant  several  savages  were  seen  rushing  into  the  canoes, 
which  were  soon  dancing  over  the  water,  in  pursuit. 
These  fearful  precursors  of  a  coming  struggle  produced 
no  change  in  the  countenances  and  movements  of  his 
three  guides,  so  far  as  Duncan  could  discover,  except 
that  the  strokes  o'f  their  paddles  were  longer  and  more 
in  unison,  and  caused  the  little  bark  to  spring  forward 
like  a  creature  possessing  life  and  volition. 

"  Hold  them  there,  Sagamore,"  said  Hawkeye,  look 
ing  coolly  backward  over  his  left  shoulder,  while  he  still 
plied  his  paddle;  "keep  them  just  there.  Them  Hurons 
have  never  a  piece  in  their  nation  that  will  execute  at 
this  distance ;  but  "  Killdeer '  has  a  barrel  on  which  a  man 
may  calculate." 

The  scout  having  ascertained  that  the  Mohicans  were 
sufficient  of  themselves  to  maintain  the  requisite  dis 
tance,  deliberately  laid  aside  his  paddle,  and  raised  the 
fatal  rifle.  Three  several  times  he  brought  the  piece  to 
his  shoulder,  and  when  his  companions  were  expecting 
its  report,  he  as  often  lowered  it  to  request  the  Indians 
would  permit  their  enemies  to  approach  a  little  nigher. 
At  length  his  accurate  and  fastidious  eye  seemed  satis 
fied,  and  throwing  out  his  left  arm  on  the  barrel,  he  was 
slowly  elevating  the  muzzle,  when  an  exclamation  from 
Uncas,  who  sat  in  the  bow,  once  more  caused  him  to 
suspend  the  shot. 

"  What  now,  lad  ?  "  demanded  Hawkeye ;  "  you  saved 
a  Huron  from  the  death-shriek  by  that  word;  have  you 
reason  for  what  you  do  ?  " 

Uncas  pointed  towards  the  rocky  shore  a  little  in  their 
front,  whence  another  war  canoe  was  darting  directly 
across  their  course.  It  was  too  obvious  now  that  their 


I 

ml 


'  The  scout  .   .   .  deliberately  laid   aside  his  paddle,   and 
raised  the  fatal  rifle." — Page  302, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  303 

situation  was  imminently  perilous  to  need  the  aid  of  lan 
guage  to  confirm  it.  The  scout  laid  aside  his  rifle,  and 
resumed  the  paddle,  while  Chingachgook  inclined  the 
bows  of  the  canoe  a  little  towards  the  western  shore, 
in  order  to  increase  the  distance  between  them  and  this 
new  enemy.  In  the  meantime  they  were  reminded  of 
the  presence  of  those  who  pressed  upon  their  rear,  by 
wild  and  exulting  shouts.  The  stirring  scene  awakened 
even  Munro  from  his  apathy. 

"  Let  us  make  for  the  rocks  on  the  main,"  he  said, 
with  the  mien  of  a  tired  soldier,  "  and  give  battle  to  the 
savages.  God  forbid  that  I,  or  those  attached  to  me  and 
mine,  should  ever  trust  again  to  the  faith  of  any  serv 
ant  of  the  Louis's !  " 

"  He  who  wishes  to  prosper  in  Indian  warfare,"  re 
turned  the  scout,  "  must  not  be  too  proud  to  learn  from 
the  wit  of  a  native.  Lay  her  more  along  the  land,  Saga 
more  ;  we  are  doubling  on  the  varlets,  and  perhaps  they 
may  try  to  strike  our  trail  on  the  long  calculation." 

Hawkeye  was  not  mistaken;  for  when  the  Hurons 
found  their  course  was  likely  to  throw  them  behind  their 
chase,  they  rendered  it  less  direct,  until,  by  gradually 
bearing  more  and  more  obliquely,  the  two  canoes  were, 
ere  long,  gliding  on  parallel  lines,  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  each  other.  It  now  became  entirely  a  trial  of 
speed.  So  rapid  was  the  progress  of  the  light  vessels, 
that  the  lake  curled  in  their  front,  in  miniature  waves, 
and  their  motion  became  undulating  by  its  own  velocity. 
It  was,  perhaps,  owing  to  this  circumstance,  in  addition 
to  the  necessity  of  keeping  every  hand  employed  at  the 
paddles,  that  the  Hurons  had  not  immediate  recourse  to 
their  firearms.  The  exertions  of  the  fugitives  were  too 
severe  to  continue  long,  and  the  pursuers  had  the  ad- 


304  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

vantage  of  numbers.  Duncan  observed,  with  uneasiness, 
that  the  scout  began  to  look  anxiously  about  him,  as 
if  searching  for  some  further  means  of  assisting  their 
flight. 

"  Edge  her  a  little  more  from  the  sun,  Sagamore," 
said  the  stubborn  woodsman ;  "  J  see  the  knaves  are  spar 
ing  a  man  to  the  rifle.  A  single  broken  bone  might  lose 
us  our  scalps.  Edge  more  from  the  sun  and  we  will  put 
the  island  between  us." 

The  expedient  was  not  without  its  use.  A  long,  low 
island  lay  at  a  little  distance  before  them,  and  as  they 
closed  with  it,  the  chasing  canoe  was  compelled  to  take 
a  side  opposite  to  that  on  which  the  pursued  passed. 
The  scout  and  his  companions  did  not  neglect  this  ad 
vantage,  but  the  instant  they  were  hid  from  observation 
by  the  bushes,  they  redoubled  efforts  that  before  had 
seemed  prodigious.  The  two  canoes  came  round  the  last 
low  point,  like  two  coursers  at  the  top  of  their  speed,  the 
fugitives  taking  the  lead.  This  change  had  brought  them 
nigher  to  each  other,  however,  while  it  altered  their 
relative  positions. 

"  You  showed  knowledge  in  the  shaping  of  birchen 
bark,  Uncas,  when  you  chose  this  from  among  the  Huron 
canoes,"  said  the  scout,  smiling,  apparently  more  in  sat 
isfaction  at  their  superiority  in  the  race,  than  from  that 
prospect  of  final  escape  which  now  began  to  open  a  lit 
tle  upon  them.  "  The  imps  have  put  all  their  strength 
again  at  the  paddles,  and  we  are  to  struggle  for  our 
scalps  with  bits  of  flattened  wood,  instead  of  clouded 
barrels  and  true  eyes.  A  long  stroke,  and  together, 
friends." 

"  They  are  preparing  for  a  shot,"  said  Heyward;  "  and 
as  we  are  in  a  line  with  them,  it  can  scarcely  fail." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  305 

"  Get  you  then  into  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,"  returned 
the  scout ;  "  you  and  the  colonel ;  it  will  be  so  much  taken 
from  the  size  of  the  mark." 

Heyward  smiled,  as  he  answered,— 

"  It  would  be  but  an  ill  example  for  the  highest  in  rank 
to  dodge,  while  the  warriors  were  under  fire !  " 

"  Lord !  Lord !  That  is  now  a  white  man's  courage !  " 
exclaimed  the  scout;  "and  like  too  many  of  his  notions, 
not  to  be  maintained  by  reason.  Do  you  think  the  Saga 
more,  or  Uncas,  or  even  I,  who  am  a  man  without  a 
cross,  would  deliberate  about  finding  a  cover  in  the 
skrimmage,  when  an  open  body  would  do  no  good  ?  For 
what  have  the  Frenchers  reared  up  their  Quebec,  if  fight 
ing  is  always  to  be  done  in  the  clearings  ? " 

"  All  that  you  say  is  very  true,  my  friend,"  replied 
Heyward ;  "  still,  our  customs  must  prevent  us  from  do 
ing  as  you  wish." 

A  volley  from  the  Hurons  interrupted  the  discourse, 
and  as  the  bullets  whistled  about  them,  Duncan  saw  the 
head  of  Uncas  turned,  looking  back  at  himself  and 
Munro.  Notwithstanding  the  nearness  of  the  enemy, 
and  his  own  great  personal  danger,  the  countenance  of 
the  young- warrior  expressed  no  other  emotion,  as  the 
former  was  compelled  to  think,  than  amazement  at  find 
ing  men  willing  to  encounter  so  useless  an  exposure. 
Chingachgook  was  probably  better  acquainted  with  the 
notions  of  white  men,  for  he  did  not  even  cast  a  glance 
aside  from  the  riveted  look  his  eye  maintained  on  the 
'object  by  which  he  governed  their  course.  A  ball  soon 
struck  the  light  and  polished  paddle  from  the  hands  of 
the  chief,  and  drove  it  through  the  air,  far  in  the  ad 
vance.  A  shout  arose  from  the  Hurons,  who  seized 
the  opportunity  to  fire  another  volley.  Uncas  described 


306  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

an  arc  in  the  water  with  his  own  blade,  and  as  the  canoe 
passed  swiftly  on,  Chingachgook  recovered  his  paddle, 
and  flourishing  it  on  high,  he  gave  the  war-whoop  of  the 
Mohicans,  and  then  lent  his  strength  and  skill  again  to 
the  important  task. 

The  clamorous  sounds  of  "  Le  Gros  Serpent !  "  "  La 
Longue  Carabine !  "  "  Le  Cerf  Agile !  "  burst  at  once  from 
the  canoes  behind,  and  seemed  to  give  new  zeal  to  the 
pursuers.  The  scout  seized  "  Killdeer  "  in  his  left  hand, 
and  elevating  it  above  his  head,  he  shook  it  in  triumph 
at  his  enemies.  The  savages  answered  the  insult  with 
a  yell,  and  immediately  another  volley  succeeded.  The 
bullets  pattered  along  the  lake,  and  one  even  pierced 
the  bark  of  their  little  vessel.  No  perceptible  emotion 
could  be  discovered  in  the  Mohicans  during  this  critical 
moment,  their  rigid  features  expressing  neither  hope  nor 
alarm ;  but  the  scout  again  turned  his  head,  and  laugh 
ing  in  his  own  silent  manner,  he  said  to  Heyward, — 

;<  The  knaves  love  to  hear  the  sounds  of  their  pieces ; 
but  the  eye  is  not  to  be  found  among  the  Mingos  that 
can  calculate  a  true  range  in  a  dancing  canoe !  You  see 
the  dumb  devils  have  taken  off  a  man  to  charge,  and  by 
the  smallest  measurement  that  can  be  allowed,  we  move 
three  feet  to  their  two !  " 

Duncan,  who  was  not  altogether  as  easy  under  this 
nice  estimate  of  distances  as  his  companions,  was  glad 
to  find,  however,  that  owing  to  their  superior  dexterity, 
and  the  diversion  among  their  enemies,  they  were  very 
sensibly  obtaining  the  advantage.  The  Hurons  soon  fired 
again,  and  a  bullet  struck  the  blade  of  Hawkeye's  pad 
dle  without  injury. 

'  That  will  do,"  said  the  scout,  examining  the  slight 
indentation  with  a  curious  eye ;  "  it  would  not  have  cut 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  307 

the  skin  of  an  infant,  much  less  of  men,  who,  like  us, 
have  been  blown  upon  by  the  heavens  in  their  anger. 
Now,  Major,  if  you  will  try  to  use  this  piece  of  flattened 
wood,  I'll  let  '  Killdeer  '  take  a  part  in  the  conversation." 

Heyward  seized  the  paddle,  and  applied  himself  to  the 
work  with  an  eagerness  that  supplied  the  place  of  skill, 
while  Hawkeye  was  engaged  in  inspecting  the  priming 
of  his  rifle.  The  latter  then  took  a  swift  aim,  and  fired. 
The  Huron  in  the  bows  of  the  leading  canoe  had  risen 
with  a  similar  object,  and  he  now  fell  backward,  suffer 
ing  his  gun  to  escape  from  his  hands  into  the  water.  In 
an  instant,  however,  he  recovered  his  feet,  though  his 
gestures  were  wild  and  bewildered.  At  the  same  mo 
ment  his  companions  suspended  their  efforts,  and  the 
chasing  canoes  clustered  together,  and  became  station 
ary.  Chingachgook  and  Uncas  profited  by  the  interval 
to  regain  their  wind,  though  Duncan  continued  to  work 
with  the  most  persevering  industry.  The  father  and  son 
now  cast  calm  but  inquiring  glances  at  each  other,  to 
learn  if  either  had  sustained  any  injury  by  the  fire;  for 
both  well  knew  that  no  cry  or  exclamation  would,  in  such 
a  moment  of  necessity,  have  been  permitted  to  betray 
the  accident.  A  few  large  drops  of  blood  were  trickling 
down  the  shoulder  of  the  Sagamore,  who,  when  he  per 
ceived  that  the  eyes  of  Uncas  dwelt  too  long  on  the 
sight,  raised  some  water  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and 
washing  off  the  stain,  was  content  to  manifest,  in  this 
simple  manner,  the  slightness  of  the  injury. 

"  Softly,  softly,  Major,"  said  the  scout,  who  by  this 
time  had  reloaded  his  rifle ;  "  we  are  a  little  too  far  al 
ready  for  a  rifle  to  put  forth  its  beauties,  and  you  see 
yonder  imps  are  holding  a  council.  Let  them  come  up 
within  striking  distance — my  eye  may  well  be  trusted 


308  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

in  such  a  matter — and  I  will  trail  the  varlets  the  length 
of  the  Horican,  guaranteeing  that  not  a  shot  of  theirs 
shall,  at  the  worst,  more  than  break  the  skin,  while  '  Kill- 
deer  '  shall  touch  the  life  twice  in  three  times." 

"  We  forget  our  errand,"  returned  the  diligent  Duncan. 
"  For  God's, sake  let  us  profit  by  this  advantage.,  and  in 
crease  our  distance  from  the  enemy." 

"  Give  me  my  children,"  said  Munro  hoarsely ;  "  trifle 
no  longer  with  a  father's  agony,  but  restore  me  my 
babes." 

Long  and  habitual  deference  to  the  mandates  of  his 
superiors  had  taught  the  scout  the  virtue  of  obedience. 
Throwing  a  last  and  lingering  glance  at  the  distant  canoes, 
he  laid  aside  his  rifle,  and  relieving  the  wearied  Duncan, 
resumed  the  paddle,  which  he  wielded  with  sinews  that 
never  tired.  His  efforts  were  seconded  by  those  of  the 
Mohicans,  and  a  very  few  minutes  served  to  place  such 
a  sheet  of  water  between  them  and  their  enemies,  that 
Heyward  once  more  breathed  freely. 

The  lake  now  began  to  expand,  and  their  route  lay 
along  a  wide  reach,  that  was  lined,  as  before,  by  high 
and  ragged  mountains.  But  the  islands  were  few,  and 
easily  avoided.  The  strokes  of  the  paddles  grew  more 
measured  and  regular,  while  they  who  plied  them  con 
tinued  their  labor,  after  the  close  and  deadly  chase  from 
which  they  had  just  relieved  themselves,  with  as  much 
coolness  as  though  their  speed  had  been  tried  in  sport, 
rather  than  under  such  pressing,  nay,  almost  desperate 
circumstances. 

Instead  of  following  the  western  shore,  whither  their 
errand  led  them,  the  wary  Mohican  inclined  his  course 
more  towards  those  hills  behind  which  Montcalm  was 
known  to  have  led  his  army  into  the  formidable  fortress 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  309 

of  Ticonderoga.  As  the  Hurons,  to  every  appearance, 
had  abandoned  the  pursuit,  there  was  no"  apparent  rea 
son  for  this  excess  of  caution.  It  was,  however,  main 
tained  for  hours,  until  they  had  reached  a  bay,  nigh-4hc 
northern  termination  of  the  lake.  Here  the  canoe  was 
driven  upon  the  beach,  and  the  whole  party  landed. 
Hawkeye  and  Heyward  ascended  an  adjacent  bluff, 
where  the  former,  after  considering  the  expanse  of  wa 
ter  beneath  him,  pointed  out  to  the  latter  a  small  black 
object,  hovering  under  a  headland,  at  the  distance  of 
several  miles. 

"  Do  you  see  it?  "  demanded  the  scout.  "  Now,  what 
would  you  account  that  spot,  were  you  left  alone  to  white 
experience  to  find  your  way  through  this  wilderness  ?  " 

"  But  for  its  distance  and  its  magnitude,  I  should  sup 
pose  it  a  bird.  Can  it  be  a  living  object?  " 

"  Tis  a  canoe  of  good  birchen  bark,  and  paddled  by 
fierce  and  crafty  Mingos.  Though  Providence  has  lent 
to  those  who  inhabit  the  woods  eyes  that  would  be  need 
less  to  men  in  the  settlements,  where  there  are  inven 
tions  to  assist  the  sight,  yet  no  human  organs  can  see  all 
the  dangers  which  at  this  moment  circumvent  us.  These 
varlets  pretend  to  be  bent  chiefly  on  their  sun-down  meal, 
but  the  moment  it  is  dark  they  will  be  on  our  trail,  as 
true  as  hounds  on  the  scent.  We  must  throw  them  off, 
or  our  pursuit  of  Le  Renard  Subtil  may  be  given  up. 
These  lakes  are  useful  at  times,  especially  when  the  game 
takes  the  water/'  continued  the  scout,  gazing  about  him 
with  a  countenance  of  concern ;  "  but  they  give  no  cover, 
except  it  be  to  the  fishes.  God  knows  what  the  country 
would  be,  if  the  settlements  should  ever  spread  far  from 
the  two  rivers.  Both  hunting  and  war  would  lose  their 
beauty." 


3io  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Let  us  not  delay  a  moment,  without  some  good  and 
obvious  cause." 

"  I  little  like  that  smoke,  which  you  may  see  worming 
up  along  the  rock  above  the  canoe/'  interrupted  the  ab 
stracted  scout.  "  My  life  on  it,  other  eyes  than  ours 
see  it,  and  know  its  meaning.  Well,  words  will  not  mend 
the  matter,  and  it  is  time  that  we  were  doing." 

Hawkeye  moved  away  from  the  lookout,  and  de 
scended,  musing  profoundly,  to  the  shore.  He  commu 
nicated  the  result  of  his  observations  to  his  companions, 
in  Delaware,  and  a  short  and  earnest  consultation  suc 
ceeded.  When  it  terminated,  the  three  instantly  set 
about  executing  their  new  resolutions. 

The  canoe  was  lifted  from  the  water,  and  borne  on 
the  shoulders  of  the  party.  They  proceeded  into  the 
wood,  making  as  broad  and  obvious  a  trail  as  possible. 
They  soon  reached  a  water-course,  which  they  crossed, 
and  continued  onward,  until  they  came  to  an  extensive 
and  naked  rock.  At  this  point,  where  their  footsteps 
might  be  expected  to  be  no  longer  visible,  they  retraced 
their  route  to  the  brook,  walking  backwards,  with  the  ut 
most  care.  They  now  followed  the  bed  of  the  little 
stream  to  the  lake,  into  which  they  immediately  launched 
their  canoe  again.  A  low  point  concealed  them  from 
the  headland,  and  the  margin  of  the  lake  was  fringed 
for  some  distance  with  dense  and  overhanging  bushes. 
Under  the  cover  of  these  natural  advantages,  they  toiled 
their  way,  with  patient  industry,  until  the  scout  pro 
nounced  that  he  believed  it  would  be  safe  once  more  to 
land. 

The  halt  continued  until  evening  rendered  objects  in 
distinct  and  uncertain  to  the  eye.  Then  they  resumed 
their  route,  and,  favored  by  the  darkness,  pushed  silently 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  311 

and  vigorously  towards  the  western  shore.  *  Although 
the  rugged  outline  of  mountain,  to  which  they  were 
steering,  presented  no  distinctive  marks  to  the  eyes  of 
Duncan,  the  Mohican  entered  the  little  haven  he  had 
selected  with  the  confidence  and  accuracy  of  an  expe 
rienced  pilot. 

The  boat  was  again  lifted  and  borne  into  the  woods, 
where  it  was  carefully  concealed  under  a  pile  of  brush. 
The  adventurers  assumed  their  arms  and  packs,  and  the 
scout  announced  to  Munro  and  Heyward  that  he  and 
the  Indians  were  at  last  in  readiness  to  proceed. 


CHAPTER 
XXI. 

"  If  you  find  a  man  there,  he  shall  die  a  flea's  death." 

Merry  Wives  of  Windsor. 

f  I^HE  party  hapl  landed  on  the  border  of  a  region  that 
A  is,  even  to  this  day,  less  known  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  States,  than  the  deserts  of  Arabia,  or  the  steppes 
of  Tartary.  It  was  the  sterile  and  rugged  district  which 
separates  the  tributaries  of  Champlain  from  those  of  the 
Hudson,  the  Mohawk,  and  the  St.  Lawrence.  Since 
the  period  of  our  tale,  the  active  spirit  of  the  country 
has  surrounded  it  with  a  belt  of  rich  and  thriving  settle 
ments,  though  none  but  the  hunter  or  the  savage  is  ever 
known,  even  now,  to  penetrate  its  wild  recesses. 

As  Hawkeye  and  the  Mohicans  had,  however,  often 
traversed  the  mountains  and  valleys  of  this  vast  wilder 
ness,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  plunge  into  its  depths,  with 
the  freedom  of  men  accustomed  to  its  privations  and  diffi 
culties.  For  many  hours  the  travelers  toiled  on  their 
laborious  way,  guided  by  a  star,  or  following  the  direc 
tion  of  some  water-course,  until  the  scout  called  a  halt, 
and  holding  a  short  consultation  with  the  Indians, 
they  lighted  their  fire,  and  made  the  usual  preparations 

312 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  313 

to  pass  the  remainder  of  the  night  where  they  then 
were. 

Imitating  the  example,  and  emulating  the  confidence, 
of  their  more  experienced  associates,  Munro  and  Dun 
can  slept  without  fear,  if  not  without  uneasiness.  The 
dews  were  suffered  to  exhale,  and  the  sun  dispersed  the 
mists,  and  was  shedding  a  strong  and  clear  light  in  the 
forest,  when  the  travelers  resumed  their  journey. 

After  proceeding  a  few  miles,  the  progress  of  Hawk- 
eye,  who  led  the  advance,  became  more  deliberate  and 
watchful.  He  often  stopped  to  examine  the  trees;  nor 
did  he  cross  a  rivulet,  without  attentively  considering  the 
quantity,  the  velocity,  and  the  color  of  its  waters.  Dis 
trusting  his  own  judgment  his  appeals  to  the  opinion  of 
Chingachgook  were  frequent  and  earnest.  During  one 
of  these  conferences,  Heyward  observed  that  Uncas  stood 
a  patient  and  silent,  though,  as  he  imagined,  an.  inter 
ested  listener.  He  was  strongly  tempted  to  address  the 
young  chief,  and  demand  his  opinion  of  their  progress ; 
but  the  calm  and  dignified  demeanor  of  the  native  in 
duced  him  to  believe  that,  like  himself,  the  other  was 
wholly  dependent  on  the  sagacity  and  intelligence  of  the 
seniors  of  the  party.  At  last,  the  scout  spoke  in  Eng 
lish,  and  at  once  explained  the  embarrassment  of  their 
situation. 

"  When  I  found  that  the  home  path  of  the  Hurons  run 
north,"  he  said,  "  it  did  not  need  the  judgment  of  many 
long  years  to  tell  that  they  would  follow  the  valleys,  and 
keep  atween  the  waters  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Horican, 
until  they  might  strike  the  springs  of  the  Canada 
streams,  which  would  lead  them  into  the  heart  of  the 
country  of  the  Frenchers.  Yet  here  are  we,  within  a 
short  range  of  the  Scaroon,  and  not  a  sign  of  a  trail 


314  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

have  we  crossed !     Human  natur'  is  weak,  and  it  is  pos 
sible  we  may  not  have  taken  the  proper  scent." 

"  Heaven  protect  us  from  such  an  error !  "  exclaimed 
Duncan.  "  Let  us  retrace  our  steps,  and  examine  as  we 
go,  with  keener  eyes.  Has  Uncas  no  counsel  to  offer  in 
such  a  strait?  " 

The  young  Mohican  cast  a  glance  at  his  father,  but 
maintaining  his  quiet  and  reserved  mien,  he  continued 
silent.  Chingachgook  had  caught  the  look,  and  motioning 
with  his  hand,  he  bade  him  speak.  The  moment  this 
permission  was  accorded,  the  countenance  of  Uncas 
changed  from  its  grave  composure  to  a  gleam  of  intel 
ligence  and  joy.  Bounding  forward  like  a  deer,  he 
sprang  up  the  side  of  a  little  acclivity,  a  few  rods  in 
advance,  and  stood  exultingly  over  a  spot  of  fresh  earth 
that  looked  as  though  it  had  been  recently  upturned  by 
the  passage  of  some  heavy  animal.  The  eyes  of  the 
whole  party  followed  the  unexpected  movement,  and  read 
their  success  in  the  air  of  triumph  that  the  youth 
assumed. 

"  'Tis  the  trail !  "  exclaimed  the  scout,  advancing  to 
the  spot :  "  the  lad  is  quick  of  sight  and  keen  of  wit  for 
his  years." 

'Tis  extraordinary  that  he  should  have  withheld 
his  knowledge  so  long,"  muttered  Duncan,  at  his 
elbow. 

"  It  would  have  been  more  wonderful  had  he  spoken 
without  a  bidding.  No,  no ;  your  young  white,  who  gath 
ers  his  learning  from  books  and  can  measure  what  he 
knows  by  the  page,  may  conceit  that  his  knowledge,  like 
his  legs,  outruns  that  of  his  father ;  but  where  experience 
is  the  master,  the  scholar  is  made  to  know  the  value  of 
years,  and  respects  them  accordingly." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  315 

"  See !  "  said  Uncas,  pointing  north  and  south,  at  the 
evident  marks  of  the  broad  trail  on  either  side  of  him: 
"  the  dark-hair  has  gone  towards  the  frost." 

"  Hound  never  ran  on  a  more  beautiful  scent,"  re 
sponded  the  scout,  dashing  forward,  at  once,  on  the  indi 
cated  route ;  "  we  are  favored,  greatly  favored,  and  can 
follow  with  high  noses.  Aye,  here  are  both  your  wad 
dling  beasts :  this  Huron  travels  like  a  white  general.  The 
fellow  is  stricken  with  a  judgment,  and  is  mad!  Look 
sharp  for  wheels,  Sagamore,"  he  continued,  looking  back, 
and  laughing  in  his  newly  awakened  satisfaction ;  "  we 
shall  soon  have  the  fool  journeying  in  a  coach,  and  that 
with  three  of  the  best  pair  of  eyes  on  the  borders,  in 
his  rear." 

The  spirits  of  the  scout,  and  the  astonishing  success 
of  the  chase,  in  which  a  circuitous  distance  of  more  than 
forty  miles  had  been  passed,  did  not  fail  to  impart  a  por 
tion  of  hope  to  the  whole  party.  Their  advance  was 
rapid;  and  made  with  as  much  confidence  as  a  traveler 
would  proceed  along  a  wide  highway.  If  a  rock,  or  a 
rivulet,  or  a  bit  of  earth  harder  than  common,  severed 
the  links  of  the  clue  they  followed,  the  true  eye  of  the 
scout  recovered  them  at  a  distance,  and  seldom  rendered 
the  delay  of  a  single  moment  necessary.  Their  progress 
was  much  facilitated  by  the  certainty  that  Magua  had 
found  it  necessary  to  journey  through  the  valleys;  a  cir 
cumstance  which  rendered  the  general  direction  of  the 
route  sure.  Nor  had  the  Huron  entirely  neglected  the 
arts  uniformly  practised  by  the  natives  when  retiring  in 
front  of  an  enemy.  False  trails,  and  sudden  turnings, 
were  frequent,  wherever  a  brook,  or  the  formation  of 
the  ground,  rendered  them  feasible;  but  his  pursuers 
were  rarely  deceived,  and  never  failed  to  detect  their 


316  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

error,  before  they  had  lost  either  time  or  distance  on  the 
deceptive  track. 

By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  they  had  passed  the 
Scaroon,  and  were  following  the  route  of  the  declining 
sun.  After  descending  an  eminence  to  a  low  bottom, 
through  which  a  stream  glided,  they  suddenly  came  to 
a  place  where  the  party  of  Le  Renard  had  made  a  halt. 
Extinguished  brands  were  lying  around  a  spring,  the 
offals  of  a  deer  were  scattered  about  the  place,  and.  the 
trees  bore  evident  marks  of  having  been  browsed  by  the 
horses.  At  a  little  distance,  Heyward  discovered,  and 
contemplated  with  tender  emotion,  the  small  bower  under 
which  he  was  fain  to  believe  that  Cora  and  Alice  had 
reposed.  But  while  the  earth  was  trodden,  and  the  foot 
steps  of  both  men  and  beasts  were  so  plainly  visible 
around  the  place,  the  trail  appeared  to  have  suddenly 
ended. 

It  was  easy  to  follow  the  track  of  the  Narragansetts, 
but  they  seemed  only  to  have  wandered  without  guides, 
or  any  other  object  than  the  pursuit  of  food.  At  length 
Uncas,  who,  with  his  father,  had  endeavored  to  trace 
the  route  of  the  horses,  came  upon  a  sign  of  their  pres 
ence  that  was  quite  recent.  Before  following  the  clue, 
he  communicated  his  success  to  his  companions;  and 
while  the  latter  were  consulting  on  the  circumstance,  the 
youth  reappeared,  leading  the  two  fillies,  with  their  sad 
dles  broken,  and  the  housings  soiled,  as  though  they  had 
been  permitted  to  run  at  will  for  several  days. 

"  What  should  this  mean  ?  "  said  Duncan,  turning  pale, 
and  glancing  his  eyes  around  him,  as  if  he  feared  the 
brush  and  leaves  were  about  to  give  up  some  horrid 
secret. 

"  That  our  march  is  come  to  a  quick  end,  and  that  we 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  317 

are  in  an  enemy's  country,"  returned  the  scout.  "  Had 
the  knave  been  pressed,  and  the  gentle  ones  wanted 
horses  to  keep  up  with  the  party,  he  might  have  taken 
theif  scalps ;  but  without  an  enemy  at  his  heels,  and  with 
such  rugged  beasts  as  these,  he  would  not  hurt  a  hair 
of  their  heads.  I  know  your  thoughts,  and  shame  be  it 
to  our  color  that  you  have  reason  for  them ;  but  he  who 
thinks  that  even  a  Mingo  would  ill-treat  a  woman,  un 
less  it  be  to  tomahawk  her,  knows  nothing  of  Indian 
natur',  or  the  laws  of  the  woods.  No,  no;  I  have  heard 
that  the  French  Indians  had  come  into  these  hills,  to 
hunt  the  moose,  and  we  are  getting  within  scent  of  their 
camp.  Why  should  they  not?  the  morning  and  evening 
guns  of  Ty  may  be  heard  any  day  among  these  moun 
tains;  for  the  Frenchers  are  running  a  new  line  atween 
the  provinces  of  the  king  and  the  Canadas.  It  is  true 
that  the  horses  are  here,  but  the  Hnrons  are  gone;  let 
us  then  hunt  for  the  path  by  which  they  departed." 

Hawkeye  and  the  Mohicans  now  applied  themselves 
to  their  task  in  good  earnest.  A  circle  of  a  few  hundred 
feet  in  circumference  was  drawn,  and  each  of  the  party 
took  a  segment  for  his  portion.  The  examination,  how 
ever,  resulted  in  no  discovery.  The  impressions  of  foot 
steps  were  numerous,  but  they  all  appeared  like  those  of 
men  who  had  wandered  about  the  spot,  without  any  de 
sign  to  quit  it.  Again  the  scout  and  his  companions  made 
the  circuit  of  the  halting-place,  each  slowly  following  the 
other,  until  they  assembled  in  the  center  once  more,  no 
wiser  than  when  they  started. 

"  Such  cunning  is  not  without  its  deviltry,"  exclaimed 
Hawkeye,  when  he  met  the  disappointed  looks  of  his 
assistants. 

"  We  must  get  down  to  it,  Sagamore,  beginning  at  the 


318  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

spring,  and  going  over  the  ground  by  inches.  The  Huron 
shall  never  brag  in  his  tribe  that  he  has  a  foot  which 
leaves  no  print." 

Setting  the  example  himself,  the  scout  engaged  in  the 
scrutiny  with  renewed  zeal.  Not  a  leaf  was  left  un 
turned.  The  sticks  were  removed,  and  the  stones  lifted; 
for  Indian  cunning  was  known  frequently  to  adopt  these 
objects  as  covers,,  laboring  with  the  utmost  patience  and 
industry,  to  conceal  each  footstep  as  they  proceeded. 
Still  no  discovery  was  made.  At  length  Uncas,  whose 
activity  had  enabled  him  to  achieve  his  portion  of  the 
task  the  soonest,  raked  the  earth  across  the  turbid  little 
rill  which  ran  from  the  spring,  and  diverted  its  course 
into  another  channel.  So  soon  as  its  narrow  bed  below 
the  dam  was  dry,  he  stooped  over  it  with  keen  and  curious 
eyes.  A  cry  of  exultation  immediately  announced  the 
success  of  the  young  warrior.  The  whole  party  crowded 
to  the  spot  where  Uncas  pointed  out  the  impression  of  a 
moccasin  in  the  moist  alluvion. 

'  The  lad  will  be  an  honor  to  his  people,"  said  Hawk- 
eye,  regarding  the  trail  with  as  much  admiration  as  a 
naturalist  would  expend  on  the  tusk  of  a  mammoth  or 
the  rib  of  a  mastodon ;  "  aye,  and  a  thorn  in  the  sides 
of  the  Hurons.  Yet  that  is  not  the  footstep  of  an  Indian ! 
the  weight  is  too  much  on  the  heel,  and  the  toes  are 
squared,  as  though  one  of  the  French  dancers  had  been 
in,  pigeon-winging  his  tribe !  Run  back,  Uncas,  and 
bring  me  the  size  of  the  singer's  foot.  You  will  find  a 
beautiful  print  of  it  just  opposite  yon  rock,  agin  the 
hillside." 

While  the  youth  was  engaged'  in  this  commission,  the 
scout  and  Chingachgook  were  attentively  considering  the 
impressions.  The  measurements  agreed,  and  the  former 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  319 

unhesitatingly  pronounced  that  the  footstep  was  that  of 
David,  who  had,  once  more,,  been  made  to  exchange  his 
shoes  for  moccasins. 

"  I  can  now  read  the  whole  of  it,  as  plainly  as  if  I  had 
seen  the  arts  of  Le  Subtil/'  he  added;  "  the  singer,  be 
ing  a  man  whose  gifts  lay  chiefly  in  his  throat  and  feet, 
was  made  to  go  first,  and  the  others  have  trod  in  his 
steps,  imitating  their  formation." 

"  But,"  cried  Duncan,  "  I  see  no  signs  of— 

"  The  gentle  ones,"  interrupted  the  scout ;  "  the  varlet 
has  found  a  way  to  carry  them,  until  he  supposed  he  had 
thrown  any  followers  off  the  scent.  My  life  on  it,  we 
see  their  pretty  little  feet  again,  before  many  rods 
go  by." 

The  whole  party  now  proceeded,  following  the  course 
of  the  rill,  keeping  anxious  eyes  on  the  regular  impres 
sions.  The  water  soon  flowed  into  its  bed  again,  but 
watching  the  ground  on  either  side,  the  foresters  pur 
sued  their  way  content  with  knowing  that  the  trail  lay 
beneath.  More  than  half  a  mile  was  passed,  before  the 
rill  rippled  close  around  the  base  of  an  extensive  and 
dry  rock.  Here  they  paused  to  make  sure  that  the 
Hurons  had  not  quitted  the  water. 

It  was  fortunate  they  did  so.  For  the  quick  and  active 
Uncas  soon  found  the  impression  of  a  foot  on  a  bunch  of 
moss  where  it  would  seem  an  Indian  had  inadvertently 
trodden.  Pursuing  the  direction  given  by  this  discovery, 
he  entered  the  neighboring  thicket,  and  struck  the  trail, 
as  fresh  and  obvious  as  it  had  been  before  they  reached 
the  spring.  Another  shout  announced  the  good  fortune 
of  the  youth  to  his  companions,  and  at  once  terminated 
the  search. 

"  Aye,  it  has  been  planned  with  Indian  judgment,"  said 


320  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  scout,  when  the  party  was  assembled  around  the 
place;  "  and  would  have  blinded  white  eyes." 

"  Shall  we  proceed  ?  "  demanded  Heyward. 

"  Softly,  softly :  we  know  our  path ;  but  it  is  good  to 
examine  the  formation  of  things.  This  is  my  schooling, 
Major;  and  if  one  neglects  the  book,  there  is  little  chance 
of  learning  from  the  open  hand  of  Providence.  All  is 
plain  but  one  thing,  which  is  the  manner  that  the  knave 
contrived  to  get  the  gentle  ones  along  the  blind  trail. 
Even  a  Huron  would  be  too  proud  to  let  their  tender 
feet  touch  the  water." 

"  Will  this  assist  in  explaining  the  difficulty  ?  "  said 
Heyward,  pointing  towards  the  fragments  of  a  sort  of 
handbarrow,  that  had  been  rudely  constructed  of  boughs, 
and  bound  together  with  withes,  and  which  now  seemed 
carelessly  cast  aside  as  useless. 

"  Tis  explained !  "  cried  the  delighted  Hawkeye.  "  If 
them  varlets  have  passed  a  minute,  they  have  spent  hours 
in  striving  to  fabricate  a  lying  end  to  their  trail !  Well, 
I've  known  them  to  waste  a  day  in  the  same  manner, 
to  as  little  purpose.  Here  we  have  three  pair  of  mocca 
sins,  and  two  of  little  feet.  It  is  amazing  that  any  mor 
tal  beings  can  journey  on  limbs  so  small !  Pass  me  the 
thong  of  buckskin,  Uncas,  and  let  me  take  the  length 
of  this  foot.  By  the  Lord,  it  is  no  longer  than  a  child's, 
and  yet  the  maidens  are  tall  and  comely.  That  Provi 
dence  is  partial  in  its  gifts,  for  its  own  wise  reasons,  the 
best  and  most  contented  of  us  must  allow." 

:t  The  tender  limbs  of  my  daughters  are  unequal  to 
these  hardships,"  said  Munro,  looking  at  the  light  foot 
steps  of  his  children,  with  a  parent's  love :  "  we  shall  find 
their  fainting  forms  in  this  desert." 

"  Of  that  there  is  little  cause  of  fear,"  returned  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  321 

scout,  slowly  shaking  his  head ;  "  this  is  a  firm  and 
straight,  though  a  light  step,  and  not  over  long.  See, 
the  heel  has  hardly  touched  the  ground;  and  there  the 
dark-hair  has  made  a  little  jump,  from  root  to  root.  No, 
no ;  my  knowledge  for  it,  neither  of  them  was  nigh  faint 
ing,  hereaway.  Now,  the  singer  was  beginning  to  be 
foot-sore  and  leg-weary,  as  is  plain  by  his  trail.  There, 
you  see,  he  slipped ;  here  he  has  traveled  wide,  and  tot 
tered;  and  there,  again,  it  looks  as  though  he  journeyed 
on  snow-shoes.  Aye,  aye,  a  man  who  uses  his  throat 
altogether,  can  hardly  give  his  legs  a  proper  training." 

From  such  undeniable  testimony  did  the  practised 
woodsman  arrive  at  the  truth,  with  nearly  as  much  cer 
tainty  and  precision  as  if  he  had  been  a  witness  of  all 
those  events  which  his  ingenuity  so  easily  elucidated. 
Cheered  by  these  assurances,  and  satisfied  by  a  reason 
ing  that  was  so  obvious,  while  it  was  so  simple,  the  party 
resumed  its  course,  after  making  a  short  halt,  to  take  a 
hurried  repast. 

When  the  meal  was  ended,  the  scout  cast  a  glance  up 
wards  at  the  setting  sun,  and  pushed  forward  with  a 
rapidity  which  compelled  Heyward  and  the  still  vigorous 
Munro  to  exert  all  their  muscles  to  equal.  Their  route 
now  lay  along  the  bottom  which  has  already  been  men 
tioned.  As  the  Hurons  had  made  no  further  efforts  to 
conceal  their  footsteps,  the  progress  of  the  pursuers  was 
no  longer  delayed  by  uncertainty.  Before  an  hour  had 
elapsed,  however,  the  speed  of  Hawkeye  sensibly  abated, 
and  his  head,  instead  of  maintaining  its  former  direct 
and  forward  look,  began  to  turn  suspiciously  from  side 
to  side,  as  if  he  were  conscious  of  approaching  danger. 
He  soon  stopped  again,  and  waited  for  the  whole  party 
to  come  up. 


322  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  I  scent  the  Hurons,"  he  said,  speaking  to  the  Mo 
hicans  ;  "  yonder  is  open  sky,  through  the  tree-tops,  and 
we  are  getting  too  nigh  their  encampment.  Sagamore, 
you  will  take  the  hillside,  to  the  right ;  Uncas  will  bend 
along  the  brook  to  the  left,  while  I  will  try  the  trail. 
If  anything  should  happen,  the  call  will  be  three  croaks 
of  a  crow.  I  saw  one  of  the  birds  fanning  himself  in 
the  air,  just  beyond  the  dead  oak — another  sign  that  we 
are  touching  an  encampment." 

The  Indians  departed  their  several  ways  without  reply, 
while  Hawkeye  cautiously  proceeded  with  the  two  gen 
tlemen.  Heyward  soon  pressed  to  the  side  of  their  guide, 
eager  to  catch  an  early  glimpse  of  those  enemies  he  had 
pursued  with  so  much  toil  and  anxiety.  His  companion 
told  him  to  steal  to  the  edge  of  the  wood,  which,  as 
usual,  was  fringed  with  a  thicket,  and  wait  his  coming, 
for  he  wished  to  examine  certain  suspicious  signs  a  lit 
tle  on  one"  side.  Duncan  obeyed,  and  soon  found  himself 
in  a  situation^  to  command  a  view  which  he  found  as 
extraordinary  as  it  was  novel. 

The  trees  of  many  acres  had  been  felled,  and  the  glow 
of  a  mild  summer's  evening  had  fallen  on  the  clearing, 
in  beautiful  contrast  to  the  gray  light  of  the  forest.  A 
short  distance  from  the  place  where  Duncan  stood,  the 
stream  had  seemingly  expanded  into  a  little  lake,  cov 
ering  most  of  the  lowland,  from  mountain  to  mountain. 
The  water  fell  out  of  this  wide  basin,  in  a  cataract  so 
regular  and  gentle,  that  it  appeared  rather  to  be  the  work 
of  human  hands,  than  fashioned  by  nature.  A  hundred 
earthen  dwellings  stood  on  the  margin  of  the  lake,  and 
even  in  its  water,  as  though  the  latter  had  overflowed 
its  usual  banks.  Their  rounded  roofs,  admirably  molded 
for  defense  against  the  weather,  denoted  more  of  in- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  323 

dustry  and  foresight  than  the  natives  were  wont  to  be 
stow  on  their  regular  habitations,  much  less  on  those 
they  occupied  for  the  temporary  purposes  of  hunting 
and  war.  In  short,  the  whole  village  or  town,  which 
ever  it  might  be  termed,  possessed  more  of  method  and 
neatness  of  execution,  than  the  white  men  had  been  ac 
customed  to  believe  belonged,  ordinarily,  to  the  Indian 
habits.  It  appeared,  however,  to  be  deserted.  At  least, 
so  thought  Duncan  for  many  minutes;  but,  at  length, 
he  fancied  he  discovered  several  human  forms  advanc 
ing  towards  him  on  all  fours,  and  apparently  dragging 
in  their  train  some  heavy,  and  as  he  was  quick  to  appre 
hend,  some  formidable  engine.  Just  then  a  few  dark 
looking  heads  gleamed  out  of  the  dwellings,  and  the 
place  seemed  suddenly  alive  with  beings,  which,  however, 
glided  from  cover  to  cover  so  swiftly,  as  to  allow  no 
opportunity  of  examining  their  humors  or  pursuits. 
Alarmed  at  these  suspicious  and  inexplicable  movements, 
he  was  about  to  attempt  the  signal  of  thapcrows,  when 
the  rustling  of  leaves  at  hand  drew  his  eyes  in  another 
direction. 

The  young  man  started,  and  recoiled  a  few  paces  in 
stinctively,  when  he  found  himself  within  a  hundred 
yards  of  a  stranger  Indian.  Recovering  his  recollection 
on  the  instant,  instead  of  sounding  an  alarm,  which  might 
prove  fatal  to  himself,  he  remained  stationary,  an  atten 
tive  observer  of  the  other's  motions. 

An  instant  of  calm  observation  served  to  assure  Dun 
can  that  he  was  undiscovered.  The  native,  like  himself, 
seemed  occupied  in  considering  the  low  dwellings  of  the 
village,  and  the  stolen  movements  of  its  inhabitants.  It 
was  impossible  to  discover  the  expression  of  his  features, 
through  the  grotesque  mask  of  paint  under  which  they 


324  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

were  concealed;  though  Duncan  fancied  it  was  rather 
melancholy  than  savage.  His  head  was  shaved,  as  usual, 
with  the  exception  of  the  crown,  from  whose  tuft  three 
or  four  faded  feathers  from  a  hawk's  wing  were  loosely 
dangling. -*f*A  ragged  calico  mantle  half-encircled  his  body, 
while  his  nether  garment  was  composed  of  an  ordinary 
shirt,  the  sleeves  of  which  were  made  to  perform  the 
office  that  is  usually  executed  by  a  much  more  commo 
dious  arrangement.  His  legs  were  bare,  and  sadly  cut 
and  torn  by  briers.  The  feet  were,  however,  covered 
with  a  pair  of  good  deer-skin  moccasins.  Altogether, 
the  appearance  of  the  individual  was  forlorn  and 
miserable. 

Duncan  was  still  curiously  observing  the  person  of  his 
neighbor,  when  the  scout  stole  silently  and  cautiously  to 
his  side. 

"  You  see  we  have  reached  their  settlement  or  en 
campment,"  whispered  the  young  man ;  "  and  here  is  one 
of  the  savages  himself,  in  a  very  embarrassing  position 
for  our  further  movements." 

Hawkeye  started,  and  dropped  his  rifle,  when,  directed 
by  the  ringer  of  his  companion,  the  stranger  came  under 
his  view.  Then  lowering  the  dangerous  muzzle,  he 
stretched  forward  his  long  neck,  as  if  to  assist  a  scrutiny 
that  was  already  intensely  keen. 

"  The  imp  is  not  a  Huron,"  he  said,  "  nor  of  any  of 
the  Canada  tribes;  and  yet  you  see,  by  his  clothes,  the 
knave  has  been  plundering  a  white.  Aye,  Montcalm  has 
raked  the  woods  for  his  inroad,  and  a  whooping,  mur 
dering  set  of  varlets  has  he  gathered  together.  Can  you 
see  where  he  has  put  his  rifle  or  his  bow?" 

"  He  appears  to  have  no  arms ;  nor  does  he  seem  to 
be  viciously  inclined.  Unless  he  communicate  the  alarm 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  325 

to  his  fellows,  who  as  you  see  are  dodging  about  the 
water,  we  have  but  little  to  fear  from  him." 

The  scout  turned  to  Heyward,  and  regarded  him  a 
moment  with  unconcealed  amazement.  Then  opening 
wide  his  mouth,  he  indulged  in  unrestrained  and  heart 
felt  laughter,  though  in  that  silent  and  peculiar  manner 
which  danger  had  so  long  taught  him  to  practise. 

Repeating  the  words,  "  fellows  who  are  dodging  about 
the  water !  "  he  added,  "  so  much  for  schooling  and  pass 
ing  a  boyhood  in  the  settlements !  The  knave  has  long 
legs,  though,  and  shall  not  be  trusted.  Do  you  keep  him 
under  your  rifle  while  I  creep  in  behind,  through  the 
bush,  and  take  him  alive.  Fire  on  no  account." 

Heyward  had  already  permitted  his  companion  to  bury 
part  of  his  person  in  the  thicket,  when,  stretching  forth 
an  arm,  he  arrested  him,  in  order  to  ask,— 

"  If  I  see  you  in  danger,  may  I  not  risk  a  shot?  " 

Hawkeye  regarded  him  a  moment,  like  one  who  knew 
not  how  to  take  the  question;  then"  nodding  his  head, 
he  answered,  still  laughing,  though  inaudibly, — 

"  Fire  a  whole  platoon,  Major." 

In  the  next  moment  he  was  concealed  by  the  leaves. 
Duncan  waited  several  minutes  in  feverish  impatience, 
before  he  caught  another  glimpse  of  the  scout.  Then 
he  reappeared,  creeping  along  the  earth,  from  which  his 
dress  was  hardly  distinguishable,  directly  in  the  rear  of 
his  intended  captive.  Having  reached  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  latter,  he  arose  to  his  feet,  silently  and  slowly. 
At  that  instant,  several  loud  blows  were  struck  on  the 
water,  and  Duncan  turned  his  eyes  just  in  time  to  per 
ceive  that  a  hundred  dark  forms  were  plunging,  in  a 
body,  into  the  troubled  little  sheet.  Grasping  his  rifle, 
his  looks  were  again  bent  on  the  Indian  near  him.  In- 


326  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

stead  of  taking  the  alarm,  the  unconscious  savage 
stretched  forward  his  neck,  as  if  he  also  watched  the 
movements  about  the  gloomy  lake,  with  a  sort  of  silly 
curiosity.  In  the  meantime,  the  uplifted  hand  of  Hawk- 
eye  was  above  him.  But,  without  any  apparent  reason, 
it  was  withdrawn,  and  its  owner  indulged  in  another  long, 
though  still  silent,  fit  of  merriment.  When  the  peculiar 
and  hearty  laughter  of  Hawkeye  was  ended,  instead  of 
grasping  his  victim  by  the  throat,  he  tapped  him  lightly 
on  the  shoulder,  and  exclaimed  aloud, — 

"  How  now,  friend !  have  you^a  mind  to  teach  the 
beavers  to  sing?  " 

"  Even  so,"  was  the  ready  answer.  "  It  would  seem 
that  the  Being  that  gave  them  power  to  improve  his 
gifts  so  well,  would  not  deny  them  voices  to  proclaim  his 
praise." 


CHAPTER 
XXII.    &   g 


" Bot.— Are  we  all  met? 
Qwz. — Pat — pat;  and  here's  a  marvelous 
Convenient  place  for  our  rehearsal." 

Midsummer  Night's  Dream. 

THE  reader  may  better  imagine,  than  we  describe, 
the  surprise  of  Heyward.  His  lurking  Indians 
were  suddenly  converted  into  four-footed  beasts;  his 
lake  into  a  beaver  pond ;  his  cataract  into  a  dam,  con 
structed  by  those  industrious  and  ingenious  quadrupeds; 
and  a  suspected  enemy  into  his  tried  friend,  David 
Gamut,  the  master  of  psalmody.  The  presence  of  the 
latter  created  so  many  unexpected  hopes  relative  to 
the  sisters  that,  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  the 
young  man  broke  out  of  his  ambush,  and  sprang 
forward  to  join  the  two  principal  actors  in  the 
scene. 

The  merriment  of  Hawkeye  was  not  easily  appeased. 
Without  ceremony,  and  with  a  rough  hand,  he  twirled 
the  supple  Gamut  around  on  his  heel,  and  more  than  once 
affirmed  that  the  Hurons  had  done  themselves  great 
credit  in  the  fashion  of  his  costume.  Then  seizing  the 

327 


328  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

hand  of  the  other,  he  squeezed  it  with  a  grip  that 
brought  the  tears  into  the  eyes  of  the  placid  David,  and 
wished  him  joy  of  his  new  condition. 

"  You  were  about  opening  your  throat-pract/y sings 
among  the  beavers,  were  ye?"  he  said.  "The  cunning 
devils  know  half  the  trade  already,  for  they  beat  the  time 
with  their  tails,  as  you  heard  just  now;  and  in  good  time 
it  was  too,  or  '  Killdeer  '  might  have  sounded  the  first 
note  among  them.  I  have  known  greater  fools,  who 
could  read  and  write,  than  an  experienced  old  beaver; 
but  as  for  squalling,  the  animals  are  born  dumb!  What 
think  you  of  such  a  song  as  this?" 

David  shut  his  sensitive  ears,  and  even  Heyward,  ap 
prised  as  he  was  of  the  nature  of  the  cry,  looked  up 
wards  in  quest  of  the  bird,  as  the  cawing  of  a  crow  rang 
in  the  air  about  them. 

"  See !  "  continued  the  laughing  scout,  as  he  pointed 
towards  the  remainder  of  the  party,  who,  in  obedience 
to  the  signal,  were  already  approaching :  "  this  is  music 
which  has  its  natural  virtues ;  it  brings  two  good  rifles 
to  my  elbow,  to  say  nothing  of  the  knives  and  tomahawks. 
But  we  see  that  you  are  safe;  now  tell  us  what  has  be 
come  of  the  maidens." 

"  They  are  captives  to  the  heathen,"  said  David ;  "  and 
though  greatly  troubled  in  spirit,  enjoying  comfort  and 
safety  in  the  body." 

"Both?"  demanded  the  breathless  Heyward. 

"  Even  so.  Though  our  wayfaring  has  been 
sore  and  our  sustenance  scanty,  we  have  had  little 
other  cause  for  complaint,  except  the  violence  done 
our  feelings,  by  being  thus  led  in  captivity  into  a 
far  land." 

"  Bless  ye  for  these  very  words !  "  exclaimed  the  trem- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  329 

bling  Munro ;  "  I  shall  then  receive  my  babes,  spotless 
and  angel-like,  as  I  lost  them !  " 

"  I  know  not  that  their  delivery  is  at  hand,"  returned 
the  doubting  David;  u  the  leader  of  these  savages  is  pos 
sessed  of  an  evil  spirit  that  no  power  short  of  Omnipo 
tence  can  tame.  I  have  tried  him  sleeping  and  waking, 
but  neither  sounds  nor  language  seem  to  touch  his  soul." 

"Where  is  the  knave?"  bluntly  interrupted  the  scout. 

"  He  hunts  the  moose  to-day,  with  his  young  men ; 
and  to-morrow,  as  I  hear,  they  pass  farther  into  these 
forests,  and  nigher  to  the  borders  of  Canada.  The  elder 
maiden  is  conveyed  to  a  neighboring  people,  whose  lodges 
are  situate  beyond  yonder  black  pinnacle  of  rock;  while 
the  younger  is  detained  among  the  women  of  the  Hurons, 
whose  dwellings  are  but  two  short  miles  hence,  on  a 
tableland,  where  the  fire  has  done  the  office  of  the  ax, 
and  prepared  the  place  for  their  reception." 

4<  Alice,  my  gentle  Alice!  "  murmured  Hey  ward;  "  she 
has  lost  the  consolation  of  her  sister's  presence !  " 

"  Even  so.  But  so  far  as  praise  and  thanksgiving  in 
psalmody  can  temper  the  spirit  in  affliction,  she  has  not 
suffered/' 

"  Has  she  then  a  heart  for  music  ?  " 

"  Of  the  graver  and  more  solemn  character;  though 
it  must  be  acknowledged  that,  in  spite  of  all  my  endeav 
ors,  the  maiden  weeps  oftener  than  she  smiles.  At  such 
moments  I  forbear  to  press  the  holy  songs ;  but  there 
are  many  sweet  and  comfortable  periods  of  satisfactory 
communication,  when  the  ears  of  the  savages  are  as 
tounded  with  the  upliftings  of  our  voices." 

"  And  why  are  you  permitted  to  go  at  large,  un- 
watched?" 

David  composed  his  features  into  what  he  intended 


330  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

should  express  an  air  of  modest  humility,  before  he 
meekly  replied, — 

"  Little  be  the  praise  to  such  a  worm  as  I.  But, 
though  the  power  of  psalmody  was  suspended  in  the 
terrible  business  of  that  field  of  blood  through  which 
we  passed,  it  has  recovered  its  influence  even  over  the 
souls  of  the  heathen,  and  I  am  suffered  to  go  and  come 
at  will." 

The  scout  laughed,  and  tapping  his  own  forehead  sig 
nificantly,  he  perhaps  explained  the  singular  indulgence 
more  satisfactorily  when  he  said, — 

"  The  Indians  never  harm  a  non-composser.  But 
why,  when  the  path  lay  open  before  your  eyes,  did  you 
not  strike  back  on  your  own  trail  (it  is  not  so  blind  as 
that  which  a  squirrel  would  make),  and  bring  in  the 
tidings  to  Edward  ?  " 

The  scout,  remembering  only  his  own  sturdy  and  iron 
nature,  had  probably  exacted  a  task  that  David,  under 
no  circumstances,  could  have  performed.  But,  without 
entirely  losing  the  meekness  of  his  air,  the  latter  was 
content  to  answer, — 

"  Though  my  soul  would  rejoice  to  visit  the  habita 
tions  of  Christendom  once  more,  my  feet  would  rather 
follow  the  tender  spirits  intrusted  to  my  keeping,  even 
into  the  idolatrous  province  of  the  Jesuits,  than  take 
one  step  backward,  while  they  pined  in  captivity  and 
sorrow." 

Though  the  figurative  language  of  David  was  not  very 
intelligible,  the  sincere  and  steady  expression  of  his  eye, 
and  the  glow  on  his  honest  countenance,  were  not  easily 
mistaken.  Uncas  pressed  closer  to  his  side,  and  regarded 
the  speaker  with  a  look  of  commendation,  while  his 
lather  expressed  his  satisfaction  by  the  ordinary  pithy 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  331 

exclamation  of  approbation.  The  scout  shook  his  head 
as  he  rejoined,— 

"  The  Lord  never  intended  that  the  man  should  place 
all  his  endeavors  in  his  throat,  to  the  neglect  of  other 
and  better  gifts !  But  he  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
some  silly  woman,  when  he  should  have  been  gathering 
his  education  under  a  blue  sky,  among  the  beauties  of 
the  forest.  Here,  friend;  I  did  intend  to  kindle  a  fire 
with  this  tooting  whistle  of  thine;  but  as  you  value  the 
thing,  take  it,  and  blow  your  best  on  it !  " 

Gamut  received  his  pitch-pipe  with  as  strong  an  ex 
pression  of  pleasure  as  he  believed  compatible  with  the 
grave  functions  he  exercised.  After  essaying  its  virtues 
repeatedly,  in  contrast  with  his  own  voice,  and  satisfy 
ing  himself  that  none  of  its  melody  was  lost,  he  made  a 
very  serious  demonstration  towards  achieving  a  few 
stanzas  of  one  of  the  longest  effusions  in  the  little  volume 
so  often  mentioned. 

Heyward,  however,  hastily  interrupted  his  pious  pur 
pose,  by  continuing  questions  concerning  the  past  and 
present  condition  of  his  fellow-captives,  and  in  a  man 
ner  more  methodical  than  had  been  permitted  by  his 
feelings  in  the  opening  of  their  interview.  David,  though 
he  regarded  his  treasure  with  longing  eyes,  was  con 
strained  to  answer:  especially  as  the  venerable  father 
took  a  part  in  the  interrogatories,  with  an  interest  too 
imposing  to  be  denied.  Nor  did  the  scout  fail  to  throw 
in  a  pertinent  inquiry;  whenever  a  fitting  occasion  pre 
sented.  In  this  manner,  though  with  frequent  inter 
ruptions,  which  were  filled  with  certain  threatening 
sounds  from  the  recovered  instrument,  the  pursuers  were 
put  in  possession  of  such  leading  circumstances  as 
were  likely  to  prove  useful  in  accomplishing  their  great 


33  2  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  engrossing  object — the  recovery  of  the  sisters. 
The  narrative  of  David  was  simple,  and  the  facts  but 
few. 

Magua  had  waited  on  the  mountain  until  a  safe  mo 
ment  to  retire  presented  itself,  when  he  had  descended, 
and  taken  the  route  along  the  western  side  of  the 
Horican,  in  the  direction  of  the  Canadas.  As  the  subtle 
Huron  was  familiar  with  the  paths,  and  well  knew  there 
was  no  immediate  danger  of  pursuit,  their  progress  had 
been  moderate,  and  far  from  fatiguing.  It  appeared 
from  the  unembellished  statement  of  David,  that  his  own 
presence  had  been  rather  endured  than  desired;  though 
even  Magua  had  not  been  entirely  exempt  from  that  ven 
eration  with  which  the  Indians  regard  those  whom  the 
Great  Spirit  has  visited  in  their  intellects.  At  night,  the 
utmost  care  had  been  taken  of  the  captives,  both  to  pre 
vent  injury  from  the  damps  of  the  woods,  and  to  guard 
against  an  escape.  At  the  spring,  the  horses  were  turned 
loose,  as  has  been  seen ;  and  notwithstanding  the  remote 
ness  and  length  of  their  trail,  the  artifices  already  named 
were  resorted  to,  in  order  to  cut  off  every  clue  to  their 
place  of  retreat.  On  their  arrival  at  the  encampment  of 
his  people,  Magua,  in  obedience  to  a  policy  seldom  de 
parted  from,  separated  his  prisoners.  Cora  had  been  sent 
to  a  tribe  that  temporarily  occupied  an  adjacent  valley, 
though  David  was  too  ignorant  of  the  customs  and  his 
tory  of  the  natives,  to  be  able  to  declare  anything  satis 
factory  concerning  their  name  or  character.  He  only 
knew  that  they  had  not  engaged  in  the  late  expedition 
against  William  Henry ;  that,  like  the  Hurons  themselves, 
they  were  allies  of  Montcalm ;  and  that  they  maintained 
an  amicable,  though  a  watchful  intercourse  with  the  war 
like  and  savage  people,  whom  chance  had,  for  a  time, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  333 

brought  in  such  close  and  disagreeable  contact  with 
themselves. 

The  Mohicans  and  the  scout  listened  to  his  interrupted 
and  imperfect  narrative,  with  an  interest  that  obviously 
increased  as  he  proceeded ;  and  it  was  while  attempting 
to  explain  the  pursuits  of  the  community  in  which  Cora 
was  detained,  that  the  latter  abruptly  demanded, — 

"  Did  you  see  the  fashion  of  their  knives  ?  were  they 
of  English  or  French  formation  ?  " 

"  My  thoughts  were  bent  on  no  such  vanities,  but 
rather  mingled  in  consolation  with  those  of  the  maidens." 

u  The  time  may  come  when  you  will  not  consider  the 
knife  of  a  savage  such  a  despisable  vanity/'  returned  the 
scout,  with  a  strong  expression  of  contempt  for  th~ 
other's  dullness.  "  Had  they  held  their  corn-feast — or 
can  you  say  anything  of  the  totems  of  the  tribe?" 

"Of  corn,  we  had  many  and  plentiful  feasts;  for  the 
grain,  being  in  the  milk,  is  both  sweet  to  the  mouth  and 
comfortable  to  the  stomach.  Of  totem,  I  know  not  the 
meaning;  but  if  it  appertaineth  in  any  wise  to  the  art 
of  Indian  music,  it  need  not  be  inquired  after  at  their 
hands.  They  never  join  their  voices  in  praise,  and  it 
would  seem  that  they  are  among  the  profanest  of  the 
idolatrous." 

"  Therein  you  belie  the  nature  of  an  Indian.  Even 
the  Mingo  adores  but  the  true  and  living  God.  'Tis  a 
wicked  fabrication  of  the  whites,  and  I  say  it  to  the 
shame  of  my  color,  that  would  make  the  warrior  bow 
down  before  images  of  his  own  creation.  It  is  true,  they 
endeavor  to  make  truces  with  the  wicked  one — as  who 
would  not  with  an  enemy  he  cannot  conquer ! — but  they 
look  up  for  favor  and  assistance  to  the  Great  and  Good 
Spirit  only." 


334  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  It  may  he  so,"  said  David ;  "  but  I  have  seen  strange 
and  fantastic  images  drawn  in  their  paint,  of  which  their 
admiration  and  care  savored  of  spiritual  pride ;  especially 
one,  and  that,  too,  a  foul  and  loathsome  object." 

"  Was  it  a  sarpent?  "  quickly  demanded  the  scout. 

"  Much  the  same.  It  was  in  the  likeness  of  an  abject 
and  creeping  tortoise." 

"  Hugh !  "  exclaimed  both  the  attentive  Mohicans  in  a 
breath;  while  the  scout  shook  his  head  with  an  air  of 
one  who  had  made  an  important,  but  by  no  means  a 
pleasing  discovery.  Then  the  father  spoke,  in  the  lan 
guage  of  the  Delawares,  and  with  a  calmness  and  dig 
nity  that  instantly  arrested  the  attention  even  of  those 
to  whom  his  words  were  unintelligible.  His  gestures 
were  impressive,  and  at  times  energetic.  Once  he  lifted 
his  arm  on  high;  and  as  it  descended,  the  action  threw 
aside  the  folds  of  his  light  mantle,  a  finger  resting  on  his 
breast,  as  if  he  would  enforce  his  meaning  by  the  atti 
tude.  Duncan's  eyes  followed  the  movement,  and  he 
perceived  that  the  animal  just  mentioned  was  beauti 
fully,  though  faintly,  worked  in  a  blue  tint,  on  the 
swarthy  breast  of  the  chief.  All  that  he  had  ever  heard 
of  the  violent  separation  of  the  vast  tribes  of  the  Dela- 
wares  rushed  across  his  mind,  and  he  awaited  the  proper 
moment  to  speak,  with  a  suspense  that  was  rendered 
nearly  intolerable,  by  his  interest  in  the  stake.  His  wish, 
however,  was  anticipated  by  the  scout,  who  turned  from 
his  red  friend,  saying, — 

"  We  have  found  that  which  may  be  good  or  evil  to 
us,  as  Heaven  disposes.  The  Sagamore  is  of  the  high 
blood  of  the  Delawares,  and  is  the  great  chief  of  their 
Tortoises!  That  some  of  this  stock  are  among  the  peo 
ple  of  whom  the  singer  tells  us,  is  plain,  by  his  words; 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  335 

and  had  he  but  spent  half  the  breath  in  prudent  ques 
tions,  that  he  has  blown  away  in  making  a  trumpet  of 
his  throat,  we  might  have  known  how  many  warriors 
they  numbered.  It  is,  altogether,  a  dangerous  path  we 
move  in;  for  a  friend  whose  face  is  turned  from  you 
often  bears  a  bloodier  mind  than  the  enemy  who  seeks 
your  scalp." 

"  Explain,"  said  Duncan. 

1  Tis  a  long  and  melancholy  tradition,  and  one  I  lit 
tle  like  to  think  of;  for  it  is  not  to  be  denied,  that  the 
evil  has  been  mainly  done  by  men  with  white  skins.  But 
it  has  ended  in  turning  the  tomahawk  of  brother  against 
brother,  and  brought  the  Mingo  and  the  Delaware  to 
travel  in  the  same  path." 

"  You  then  suspect  it  is  a  portion  of  that  people  among 
whom  Cora  resides  ?  " 

The  scout  nodded  his  head  in  assent,  though  he  seemed 
anxious  to  waive  the  further  discussion  of  a  subject  that 
appeared  painful.  The  impatient  Duncan  now  made  sev 
eral  hasty  and  desperate  propositions  to  attempt  the  re 
lease  of  the  sisters.  Munro  seemed  to  shake  off  his 
apathy,  and  listened  to  the  wild  schemes  of  the  young 
man  with  a  deference  that  his  gray  hairs  and  reverend 
years  should  have  denied.  But  the  scout  after  suffering 
the  ardor  of  the  lover  to  expend  itself  a  little,  found 
means  to  convince  him  of  the  folly  of  precipitation,  in 
a  matter  that  would  require  their  coolest  judgment  and 
utmost  fortitude. 

"  It  would  be  well,"  he  added,  "  to  let  this  man  go  in 
again,  as  usual,  and  for  him  to  tarry  in  the  lodges,  giv 
ing  notice  to  the  gentle  ones  of  our  approach,  until  we 
call  him  out,  by  signal,  to  consult.  You  know  the  cry 
of  a  crow,  friend,  from  the  whistle  of  the  whippoorwill  ?  " 


336  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

:  'Tis  a  pleasing  bird/'  returned  David,  "  and  has  a 
soft  and  melancholy  note !  though  the  time  is  rather  quick 
and  ill-measured." 

"  He  speaks  of  the  wish-ton-wish,"  said  the  scout : 
"  well,  since  you  like  his  whistle,  it  shall  be  your  signal. 
Remember,  then,  when  you  hear. the  whippoorwill's  call 
three  times  repeated,  you  are  to  come  into  the  bushes 
where  the  bird  might  be  supposed — 

"  Stop,"  interrupted  Heyward :  "  I  will  accompany 
him." 

"  You !  "  exclaimed  the  astonished  Hawkeye ;  "  are  you 
tired  of  seeing  the  sun  rise  and  set  ?  " 

"  David  is  a  living  proof  that  the  Hurons  can  be 
merciful." 

"  Aye,  but  David  can  use  his  throat,  as  no  man  in  his 
senses  would  pervart  the  gift." 

"I  too  can  play  the  madman,  the  fool,  the  hero;  in 
short,  any  or  everything  to  rescue  her  I  love.  Name 
your  objections  no  longer:  I  am  resolved." 

Hawkeye  regarded  the  young  man  a  moment  in  speech 
less  amazement.  But  Duncan,  who,  in  deference  to  the 
other's  skill  and  services,  had  hitherto  submitted  some 
what  implicitly  to  his  dictation,  now  assumed  the  supe 
rior,  with  a  manner  that  was  not  easily  resisted.  He 
waved  his  hand,  in  sign  of  his  dislike  to  all  remonstrance, 
and  then,  in  more  tempered  language,  he  continued, — 

"  You  have  the  means  of  disguise ;  change  me ;  paint 
me  too,  if  you  will;  in  short,  alter  me  to  anything — a 
fool." 

"  It  is  not  for  one  like  me  to  say  that  he  who  is  al 
ready  formed  by  so  powerful  a  hand  as  Providence, 
stands  in  need  of  a  change,"  muttered  the  discontented 
scout.  "  When  you  send  your  parties  abroad  in  war, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  337 

you  find  it  prudent,  at  least,  to  arrange  the  marks  and 
places  of  encampment,  in  order  that  they  who  fight 
on  your  side  may  know  when  and  where  to  expect  a 
friend." 

"  Listen,"  interrupted  Duncan ;  "  you  have  heard  from 
this  faithful  follower  of  the  captives,  that  the  Indians  are 
of  two  tribes,  if  not  of  different  nations.  With  one,  whom 
you  think  to  be  a  branch  of  the  Dela wares,  is  she  you 
call  the  '  dark-hair  ' ;  the  other,  and  younger  of  the  ladies, 
is  undeniably  with  our  declared  enemies,  the  Hurons. 
It  becomes  my  youth  and  rank  to  attempt  the  latter  ad 
venture.  While  you,  therefore,  are  negotiating  with  your 
friends  for  the  release  of  one  of  the  sisters,  I  will  effect 
that  of  the  other,  or  die."' 

The  awakened  spirit  of  the  young  soldier  gleamed  in 
his  eyes,  and  his  form  became  imposing  under  its  influ 
ence.  Hawkeye,  though  too  much  accustomed  to  Indian 
artifices  not  to  foresee  the  danger  of  the  experiment, 
knew  not  well  how  to  combat  this  sudden  resolution. 

Perhaps  there  was  something  in  the  proposal  that  suited 
his  own  hardy  nature,  and  that  secret  love  of  desperate 
adventure,  which  had  increased  with  his  experience,  until 
hazard  and  danger  had  become,  in  some  measure,  nec 
essary  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  existence.  Instead  of  con 
tinuing  to  oppose  the  scheme  of  Duncan,  his  humor  sud 
denly  altered,  and  he  lent  himself  to  its  execution. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  with  a  good-humored  smile ;  "  the 
buck  that  will  take  to  the  water  must  be  headed,  and  not 
followed.  Chingachgook  has  as  many  different  paints  as 
the  engineer  officer's  wife,  who  takes  down  natur'  on 
scraps  of  paper,  making  the  mountains  look  like  cocks  of 
rusty  hay,  and  placing  the  blue  sky  in  reach  of  your 
hand.  The  Sagamore  can  use  them  too.  Seat  yourself 


338  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

on  the  log;  and  my  life  on  it,  he  can  soon  make  a  natural 
fool  of  you,  and  that  well  to  your  liking." 

Duncan  complied;  and  the  Mohican,  who  had  been  an 
attentive  listener  to  the  discourse,  readily  undertook  the 
office.  Long  practised  in  all  the  subtle  arts  of  his  race, 
he  drew,  with  great  dexterity  and  quickness,  the  fantastic 
shadow  that  the  natives  were  accustomed  to  consider  as 
the  evidence  of  a  friendly  and  jocular  disposition.  Every 
line  that  could  possibly  be  interpreted  into  a  secret  in 
clination  for  war,  was  carefully  avoided ;  while,  on  the 
other  hand,  he  studied  those  conceits  that  might  be  con 
strued  into  amity. 

In  short,  he  entirely  sacrificed  every  appearance  of  the 
warrior  to  the  masquerade  o.f  a  buffoon.  Such  exhibi 
tions  were  not  uncommon  among  the  Indians;  and  as 
Duncan  was  already  sufficiently  disguised  in  his  dress, 
there  certainly  did  exist  some  reason  for  believing  that, 
with  his  knowledge  of  French,  he  might  pass  for  a  jug 
gler  from  Ticonderoga,  straggling  among  the  allied  and 
friendly  tribes. 

When  he  was  thought  to  be  sufficiently  painted,  the 
scout  gave  him  much  friendly  advice;  concerted  signals, 
and  appointed  the  place  where  they  should  meet,  in  the 
event  of  mutual  success.  The  parting  between  Munro 
and  his  young  friend  was  more  melancholy;  still,  the 
former  submitted  to  the  separation  with  an  indifference 
that  his  warm  and  honest  nature  would  never  have  per 
mitted  in  a  more  healthful  state  of  mind.  The  scout  led 
Heyward  aside,  and  acquainted  him  with  his  intention 
to  leave  the  veteran  in  some  safe  encampment,  in  charge 
of  Chingachgook,  while  he  and  Uncas  pursued  their  in 
quiries  among  the  people  they  had  reason  to  believe  were 
Delawares.  Then  renewing  his  cautions  and  advice,  he 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  339 

concluded,  by  saying,  with  a  solemnity  and  warmth  of 
feeling,  with  which  Duncan  was  deeply  touched, — 

"  And  now  God  bless  you !  You  have  shown  a  spirit 
that  I  like ;  for  it  is  the  gift  of  youth,  more  especially 
one  of  warm  blood  and  a  stout  heart.  But  believe  the 
warning  of  a  man  who  has  reason  to  know  all  he  says 
to  be  true.  You  will  have  occasion  for  your  best  man 
hood,  and  for  a  sharper  wit  than  what  is  to  be  gathered 
in  books,  afore  you  outdo  the  cunning,  or  get  the  better 
of  the  courage  of  a  Mingo.  God  bless  you !  if  the  Hurons 
master  your  scalp,  rely  on  the  promise  of  one  who  has 
two  stout  warriors  to  back  him.  They  shall  pay  for 
their  victory,  with  a  life  for  every  hair  it  holds.  I  say, 
young  gentleman,  may  Providence  bless  your  undertak 
ing,  which  is  altogether  for  good;  and  remember,  that 
to  outwit  the  knaves  it  is  lawful  to  practise  things  that 
may  not  be  naturally  the  gift  of  a  white  skin." 

Duncan  shook  his  worthy  and  reluctant  associate 
warmly  by  the  hand,  once  more  recommended  his  aged 
friend  to  his  care,  and  returning  his  good  wishes,  he 
motioned  to  David  to  proceed.  Hawkeye  gazed  after  the 
high-spirited  and  adventurous  young  man  for  several 
moments,  in  open  admiration ;  then  shaking  his  head 
doubtingly,  he  turned,  and  led  his  own  division  of  the 
party  into  the  concealment  of  the  forest. 

The  route  taken  by  Duncan  and  David  lay  directly 
across  the  clearing  of  the  beavers,  and  along  the  margin 
of  their  pond. 

When  the  former  found  himself  alone  with  one  so 
simple,  and  so  little  qualified  to  render  any  assistance 
in  desperate  emergencies,  he  first  began  to  be  sensible  of 
the  difficulties  of  the  task  he  had  undertaken.  The  fad 
ing  light  increased  the  gloominess  of  the  bleak  and  savage 


340  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

wilderness  that  stretched  so  far  on  every  side  of  him; 
and  there  was  even  a  fearful  character  in  the  stillness 
of  those  little  huts,  that  he  knew  were  so  abundantly 
peopled.  It  struck  him,  as  he  gazed  at  the  admirable 
structures  and  the  wonderful  precautions  of  their  sa 
gacious  inmates,  that  even  the  brutes  of  these  vast  wilds 
were  possessed  of  an  instinct  nearly  commensurate  with 
his  own  reason ;  and  he  could  not  reflect,  without  anxiety, 
on  the  unequal  contest  that  he  had  so  rashly  courted. 
Then  came  the  glowing  image  of  Alice ;  her  distress ;  her 
actual  danger;  and  all  the  peril  of  his  situation  was  for 
gotten.  Cheering  David,  he  moved  on  with  the  light' 
and  vigorous  step  of  youth  and  enterprise. 

After  making  nearly  a  semicircle  around  the  pona, 
they  diverged  from  the  water-course,  and  began  to  as 
cend  to  the  level  of  a  slight  elevation  in  that  bottom  land, 
over  which  they  journeyed.  Within  half  an  hour  they 
gained  the  margin  of  another  opening  that  bore  all  the 
signs  of  having  been  also  made  by  the  beavers,  and  which 
those  sagacious  animals  had  probably  been  induced,  by 
some  accident,  to  abandon,  for  the  more  eligible  posi 
tion  they  now  occupied.  A  very  natural  sensation  caused 
Duncan  to  hesitate  a  moment,  unwilling  to  leave  the  cover 
of  their  bushy  path,  as  a  man  pauses  to  collect  his  ener 
gies  before  he  essays  any  hazardous  experiment,  in  which 
he  is  secretly  conscious  they  will  all  be  needed.  He 
profited  by  the  halt,  to  gather  such  information  as  might 
be  obtained  from  his  short  and  hasty  glances. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  clearing,  and  near  the  point 
where  the  brook  tumbled  over  some  rocks,  from  a  still 
higher  level,  some  fifty  or  sixty  lodges,  rudely  fabricated 
of  logs,  brush,  and  earth  intermingled,  were  to  be  dis 
covered.  They  were  arranged  without  any  order,  and 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  341 

seemed  to  be  constructed  with  very  little  attention  to 
neatness  or  beauty.  Indeed,  so  very  inferior  were  they 
in  the  two  latter  particulars  to  the  village  Duncan  had 
just  seen,  that  he  began  to  expect  a  second  surprise,  no 
less  astonishing  than  the  former.  This  expectation  was 
in  no  degree  diminished,  when,  by  the  doubtful  twilight, 
he  beheld  twenty  or  thirty  forms  rising  alternately  from 
the  cover  of  the  tall,  coarse  grass,  in  front  of  the  lodges, 
and  then  sinking  again  from  the  sight,  as  it  were  to  bur 
row  in  the  earth.  By  the  sudden  and  hasty  glimpses  that 
he  caught  of  these  figures,  they  seemed  more  like  dark 
glancing  specters,  or  some  other  unearthly  beings,  than 
creatures  fashioned  with  the  ordinary  and  vulgar  mate 
rials  of  flesh  and  blood.  A  gaunt,  naked  form  was  seen, 
for  a  single  instant,  tossing  its  arms  wildly  in  the  air, 
and  then  the  spot  it  had  filled  was  vacant;  the  figure 
appearing  suddenly  in  some  other  and  distant  place,  or  be 
ing  succeeded  by  another,  possessing  the  same  mysteri 
ous  character.  David,  observing  that  his  companion  lin 
gered,  pursued  the  direction  of  his  gaze,  and  in  some 
measure  recalled  the  recollection  of  Heyward,  by 
speaking. 

"  There  is  much  fruitful  soil  uncultivated  here,"  he 
said;  "  and  I  may  add,  without  the  sinful  leaven  of  self- 
commendation,  that  since  my  short  sojourn  in  these 
heathenish  abodes,  much  good  seed  has  been  scattered 
by  the  wayside." 

"  The  tribes  are  fonder  of  the  chase  than  of  the  arts 
of  men  of  labor,"  returned  the  unconscious  Duncan,  still 
gazing  at  the  objects  of  his  wonder. 

"  It  is  rather  joy  than  labor  to  the  spirit,  to  lift  up 
the  voice  in  praise ;  but  sadly  do  these  boys  abuse  their 
gifts.  Rarely  have  I  found  any  of  their  age,  on  whom 


342  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

nature  has  so  freely  bestowed  the  elements  of  psalmody; 
and  surely,  surely,  there  are  none  who  neglect  them 
more.  Three  nights  have  I  now  tarried  here,  and  three 
several  times  have  I  assembled  the  urchins  to  join  in 
sacred  song;  and  as  often  have  they  responded  to  my 
efforts  with  whoopings  and  howlings  that  have  chilled 
my  soul !  " 

"  Of  whom  speak  you  ?  " 

"  Of  those  children  of  the  devil,  who  waste  the 
precious  moments  in  yonder  idle  antics.  Ah!  the  whole 
some  restraint  of  discipline  is  but  little  known  among 
this  self-abandoned  people.  In  a  country  of  birches,  a' 
rod  is  never  seen;  and  it  ought  not  to  appear  a  marvel 
in  my  eyes,  that  the  choicest  blessings  of  Providence  are 
wasted  in  such  cries  as  these." 

David  closed  his  ears  against  the  juvenile  pack,  whose 
yell  just  then  rang  shrilly  through  the  forest;  and  Dun 
can,  suffering  his  lip  to  curl,  as  in  mockery  of  his  own 
superstition,  said  firmly, — 

"We   will   proceed." 

Without  removing  the  safeguards  from  his  ears,  the 
master  of  song  complied,  and  together  they  pursued  their 
way  towards  what  David  was  sometimes  wont  to  call 
"  the  tents  of  the  Philistines." 


CHAPTER 
XXIII. 


"  But  though  the  beast  of  game 
The   privilege   of   chase   may  claim ; 
Though  space  and  law  the  stag  we  lend 
Ere  hound  we  slip,  or  bow  we  bend; 
Who  ever  recked,  where,  how,  or  when 
The  prowling  fox  was  trapped  or  slain?" 

Lady  of  the  Lake. 

IT  is  unusual  to  find  an  encampment  of  the  natives 
like  those  of  the  more  instructed  whites,  guarded  by 
the  presence  of  armed  men.  Well  informed  of  the  ap 
proach  of  every  danger,  while  it  is  yet  at  a  distance,  the 
Indian  generally  rests  secure  underjiis  knowledge  of  the 
signs  of  the  forest,  and  the  long  and  difficult  paths  that 
separate  him  from  those  he  has  most  reason  to  dread. 
But  the  enemy  who,  by  any  lucky  concurrence  of  acci 
dents,  has  found  means  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  the 
scouts,  will  seldom  meet  with  sentinels  nearer  home  to 
sound  the  alarm.  In  addition  to  this  general  usage,  the 
tribes  friendly  to  the  French  knew  too  well  the  weight 
of  the  blow  that  had  just  been  struck,  to  apprehend  any 
immediate  danger  from  the  hostile 'nations  that  were 
tributary  to  the  crown  of  Britain. 

343 


344  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

When  Duncan  and  David,  therefore,  found  themselves 
in  the  center  of  the  children,  who  played  the  antics  al 
ready  mentioned,  it  was  with  the  least  previous  intima 
tion  of  their  approach.  But  so  soon  as  they  were  ob 
served,  the  whole  of  the  juvenile  pack  raised,  by  common 
consent,  a  shrill  and  warning  whoop ;  and  then  sank,  as 
it  were,  by  magic,  from  before  the  sight  of  their  visitors. 
The  naked,  tawny  bodies  of  the  crouching  urchins 
blended  so  nicely,  at  that  hour,  with  the  withered  herb 
age,  that  at  first  it  seemed  as  if  the  earth  had,  in  truth, 
swallowed  up  their  forms ;  though  when  surprise  per 
mitted  Duncan  to  bend  his  look  more  curiously  about 
the  spot,  he  found  it  everywhere  met  by  dark,  quick, 
and  rolling  eyeballs. 

Gathering  no  encouragement  from  this  startling 
presage  of  the  nature  of  the  scrutiny  he  was  likely  to 
undergo  from  the  more  mature  judgments  of  the  men, 
there  was  an  instant  when  the  young  soldier  would  have 
retreated.  It  was,  however,  too  late  to  appear  to  hesi 
tate.  The  cry  of  the  children  had  drawn  a  dozen  war 
riors  to  the  door  of  the  nearest  lodge,  where  they  stood 
clustered  in  a  dark  and  savage  group,  gravely  awaiting 
the  nearer  approach  of  those  who  had  unexpectedly  come 
among  them. 

David,  in  some  measure  familiarized  to  the  scene,  led 
the  way  with  a  steadiness  that  no  slight  obstacle  was 
likely  to  disconcert,  into  this  very  building.  It  was  the 
principal  edifice  of  the  village,  though  roughly  con 
structed  of  the  bark  and  branches  of  trees;  being  the 
lodge  in  which  the  tribe  held  its  councils  and  public 
meetings  during  their  temporary  residence  on  the  bor 
ders  of  the  English  province.  Duncan  found  it  difficult 
to  assume  the  necessary  appearance  of  unconcern,  as  he 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  345 

brushed  the  dark  and  powerful  frames  of  the  savages 
who  thronged  its  threshold;  but,  conscious  that  his  ex 
istence  depended  on  his  presence  of  mind,  he  trusted  to 
the  discretion  of  his  companion,  whose  footsteps  he 
closely  followed,  endeavoring,  as  he  proceeded,  to  rally 
his  thoughts  for  the  occasion.  His  blood  curdled  when 
he  found  himself  in  absolute  contact  with  such  fierce 
and  implacable  enemies;  but  he  so  far  mastered  his  feel 
ings  as  to  pursue  his  way  into  the  center  of  the  lodge, 
with  an  exterior  that  did  not  betray  the  weakness.  Imi 
tating  the  example  of  the  deliberate  Gamut,  he  drew  a 
bundle  of  fragrant  brush  from  beneath  a  pile  that  filled 
a  corner  of  the  hut,  and  seated  himself  in  silence. 

So  soon  as  their  visitor  had  passed,  the  observant  war 
riors  fell  back  from  the  entrance,  and  arranging  them 
selves  about  him,  they  seemed  patiently  to  await  the 
moment  when  it  might  comport  with  the  dignity  of  the 
stranger  to  speak.  By  far  the  greater  number  stood 
leaning,  in  lazy,  lounging  attitudes,  against  the  upright 
posts  that  supported  the  crazy  building,  while  three  or 
four  of  the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  of  the  chiefs 
placed  themselves  on  the  earth  a  little  more  in  advance. 

A  flaring  torch  was  burning  in  the  place,  and  sent  its 
red  glare  from  face  to  face  and  figure  to  figure,  as  it 
waved  in  the  currents  of  air.  Duncan  profited  by  its 
light  to  read  the  probable  character  of  his  reception,  in 
the  countenances  of  his  hosts.  But  his  ingenuity  availed 
him  little,  against  the  cold  artifices  of  the  people  he  had 
encountered.  The  chiefs  in  front  scarce  cast  a  glance 
at  his  person,  keeping  their  eyes  on  the  ground,  with  an 
air  that  might  have  been  intended  for  respect,  but  which 
it  was  quite  easy  to  construe  into  distrust.  The  men  in 
shadow  were  less  reserved.  Duncan  soon  detected  their 


346  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

searching,  but  stolen  looks,  which,  in  truth,  scanned  his   : 
person  and  attire  inch  by  inch;  leaving  no  emotion  of 
the  countenance,  no  gesture,  no  line  of  the  paint,  nor 
even  the  fashion  of  a  garment,  unheeded,  and  without 
comment. 

At  length  one  whose  hair  was  beginning  to  be  sprinkled 
with  gray,  but  whose  sinewy  limbs  and  firm  tread  an 
nounced  that  he  was  still  equal  to  the  duties  of  manhood, 
advanced  out  of  the  gloom  of  a  corner,  whither  he  had 
probably  posted  himself  to  make  his  observations  un 
seen,  and  spoke.  He  used  the  language  of  the  Wyandots, 
or  Hurons ;  his  words  were,  consequently,  unintelligible  1 
to  Heyward,  though  they  seemed,  by  the  gestures  that 
accompanied  them,  to  be  uttered  more  in  courtesy  than 
anger.  The  latter  shook  his  head,  and  made  a  gesture 
indicative  of  his  inability  to  reply. 

"  Do  none  of  my  brothers  speak  the  French  or  the   - 
English  ?  "  he  said,  in  the  former  language,  looking  about 
him  from  countenance  to  countenance,  in  hopes  of  find 
ing  a  nod  of  assent. 

Though  more  than  one  had  turned,  as  if  to  catch  the 
meaning  of  his  words,  they  remained  unanswered. 

"  I   should  be  grieved   to   think,"   continued   Duncan,  j 
speaking  slowly,  and  using  the  simplest  French  of  which  I 
he  was  the  master,  "  to  believe,  that  none  of  this  wise  j 
and    brave    nation    understand    the    language    that    the    | 
'  Grand  Monarque  '  uses  when  he  talks  to  his  children. 
His  heart  would  be  heavy  did  he  believe  his  red  war 
riors  paid  him  so  little  respect !  " 

A  long  and  grave  pause  succeeded,  during  which  no   j 
movement  of  a  limb,  nor  any  expression  of  an  eye,  be 
trayed  the  impression  produced  by  his  remark.     Dun 
can,  who  knew  that  silence  was  a  virtue  among  his  hosts, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  347 

gladly  had  recourse  to  the  custom,  in  order  to  arrange 
his  ideas.  At  length  the  same  warrior  who  had  before 
addressed  him  replied,  by  dryly  demanding,  in  the  lan 
guage  of  the  Canadas, — 

"  When  our  Great  Father  speaks  to  his  people,  is  it 
with  the  tongue  of  a  Huron  ?  " 

"  He  knows  no  difference  in  his  children,  whether  the 
color  of  the  skin  be  red,  or  black,  or  white,"  returned 
Duncan,  evasively ;  "  though  chiefly  is  he  satisfied  with 
the  brave  Hurons." 

"  In  what  manner  will  he  speak,"  demanded  the  wary 
chief,  "  when  the  runners  count  to  him  the  scalps  which 
five  nights  ago  grew  on  the  heads  of  the  Yengeese  ?  " 

"  They  were  his  enemies,"  said  Duncan,  shuddering 
involuntarily ;  "  and,  doubtless,  he  will  say,  It  is  good ; 
my  Hurons  are  very  gallant." 

"  Our  Canada  father  does  not  think  it.  Instead  of 
looking  forward  to  reward  his  Indians,  his  eyes  are 
turned  backward.  He  sees  the  dead  Yengeese,  but  no 
Huron.  What  can  this  mean?" 

u  A  great  chief,  like  him,  has  more  thoughts  than 
tongues.  He  looks  to  see  that  no  enemies  are  on  his 
trail." 

"  The  canoe  of  a  dead  warrior  will  not  float  on  the 
Horican,"  returned  the  savage,  gloomily.  "  His  ears 
are  open  to  the  Delawares,  who  are  riot  our  friends,  and 
they  fill  them  with  lies." 

"  It  cannot  be.  See !  he  has  bid  me,  who  am  a  man 
that  knows  the  art  of  healing,  to  go  to  his  children,  the 
red  Hurons  of  the  great  lakes,  and  ask  if  any  are 
sick !  " 

Another  silence  succeeded  this  annunciation  of  the 
character  Duncan  had  assumed.  Every  eye  was  simul- 


348  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

taneously  bent  on  his  person,  as  if  to  inquire  into  the 
truth  or  falsehood  of  the  declaration,  with  an  intelli 
gence  and  keenness  that  caused  the  subject  of  their 
scrutiny  to  tremble  for  the  result.  He  was,  however, 
relieved  again  by  the  former  speaker. 

"  Do  the  cunning  men  of  the  Canadas  paint  their 
skins  ?  "  the  Huron  coldly  continued ;  "  we  have  heard 
them  boast  that  their  faces  were  pale." 

"  When  an  Indian  chief  comes  among  his  white  fa 
thers,"  returned  Duncan,  with  great  steadiness,  "  he  lays 
aside  his  buffalo  robe,  to  carry  the  shirt  that  is  offered 
him.  My  brothers  have  given  me  paint,  and  I  wear 
it." 

A  low  murmur  of  applause  announced  that  the  com 
pliment  to  the  tribe  was  favorably  received.  The  elderly 
chief  made  a  gesture  of  commendation,  which  was  an 
swered  by  most  of  his  companions,  who  each  threw  forth 
a  hand,  and  uttered  a  brief  exclamation  of  pleasure. 
Duncan  began  to  breathe  more  freely,  believing  that  the 
weight  of  his  examination  was  past;  and  as  he  had  al 
ready  prepared  a  simple  and  probable  tale  to  support 
his  pretended  occupation,  his  hopes  of  ultimate  success 
grew  brighter. 

After  a  silence  of  a  few  moments,  as  if  adjusting  his 
thoughts,  in  order  to  make  a  suitable  answer  to  the  dec 
laration  their  guest  had  just  given,  another  warrior  arose, 
and  placed  himself  in  an  attitude  to  speak.  While  his 
lips  were  yet  in  the  act  of  parting,  a  low  but  fearful 
sound  arose  from  the  forest,  and  was  immediately  suc 
ceeded  by  a  high,  shrill  yell,  that  was  drawn  out,  until 
it  equaled  the  longest  and  most  plaintive  howl  of  the 
wolf.  The  sudden  and  terrible  interruption  caused  Dun 
can  to  start  from  his  seat,  unconscious  of  everything  but 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  349 

the  effect  produced  by  so  frightful  a  cry.  At  the  same 
moment,  the  warriors  glided  in  a  body  from  the  lodge, 
and  the  outer  air  was  rilled  with  loud  shouts,  that  nearly 
drowned  those  awful  sounds,  which  were  still  ringing 
beneath  the  arches  of  the  woods.  Unable  to  command 
himself  any  longer,  the  youth  broke  from  the  place,  and 
presently  stood  in  the  center  of  a  disorderly  throng,  that 
included  nearly  everything  having  life,  within  the  limits- 
of  the  encampment.  Men,  women,  and  children;  the 
aged,  the  infirm,  the  active,  and  the  strong,  were  alike 
abroad ;  some  exclaiming  aloud,  others  clapping  their 
hands  with  a  joy  that  seemed  frantic,  and  all  express 
ing  their  savage  pleasure  in  some  unexpected  event. 
Though  astounded,  at  first,  by  the  uproar,  Heyward  was 
soon  enabled  to  find  its  solution  by  the  scene  that 
followed. 

There  yet  lingered  sufficient  light  in  the  heavens  to 
exhibit  those  bright  openings  among  the  tree-tops,  where 
different  paths  left  the  clearing  to  enter  the  depths  of 
the  wilderness.  Beneath  one  of  them,  a  line  of  warriors 
issued  from  the  woods,  and  advanced  slowly  towards 
the  dwellings.  One  in  front  bore  a  short  pole,  on  which, 
as  it  afterwards  appeared,  were  suspended  several  hu 
man  scalps.  The  startling  sounds  that  Duncan  had  heard 
were  what  the  whites  have  not  inappropriately  called  the 
"  death-halloo  " ;  and  each  repetition  of  the  cry  was  in 
tended  to  announce  to  the  tribe  the  fate  of  an  enemy. 
Thus  far  the  knowledge  of  Heyward  assisted  him  in  the 
explanation;  and  as  he  now  knew  that  the  interruption 
was  caused  by  the  unlooked-for  return  of  a  successful 
war-party,  every  disagreeable  sensation  was  quieted  in 
inward  congratulation,  for  the  opportune  relief  and  insig 
nificance  it  conferred  on  himself. 


350  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

When  at  the  distance  of  a  few  hundred  feet  from  the 
lodges,  the  newly  arrived  warriors  halted.  Their  plain 
tive  and  terrific  cry,  which  was  intended  to  represent 
equally  the  wailings  of  the  dead  and  the  triumph  of  the 
victors,  had  entirely  ceased.  One  of  their  number  now 
called  aloud,  in  words  that  were  far  from  appalling, 
though  not  more  intelligible  to  those  for  whose  ears  they 
were  intended,  than  their  expressive  yells.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  convey  a  suitable  idea  of  the  savage  ecstasy 
with  which  the  news  thus  imparted  was  received.  The 
whole  encampment,  in  a  moment,  became  a  scene  of  the 
most  violent  bustle  and  commotion.  The  warriors  drew 
their  knives,  and  flourishing  them,  they  arranged  them 
selves  in  two  lines,  forming  a  lane  that  extended  from 
the  war-party  to  the  lodges.  The  squaws  seized  clubs, 
axes,  or  whatever  weapon  of  offense  first  offered  itself 
to  their  hands,  and  rushed  eagerly  to  act  their  part  in  the 
cruel  game  that  was  at  hand.  Even  the  children  would 
not  be  excluded;  but  boys,  little  able  to  wield  the  instru 
ments,  tore  the  tomahawks  from  the  belts  of  their  fa 
thers,  and  stole  into  the  ranks,  apt  imitators  of  the  savage 
traits  exhibited  by  their  parents. 

Large  piles  of  brush  lay  scattered  about  the  clearing, 
and  a  wary  and  aged  squaw  was  occupied  in  firing  as 
many  as  might  serve  to  light  the  coming  exhibition.  As  the 
flame  arose,  its  power  exceeded  that  of  the  parting  day, 
and  assisted  to  render  objects  at  the  same  time  more  dis 
tinct  and  more  hideous.  The  whole  scene  formed  a  strik 
ing  picture,  whose  frame  was  composed  of  the  dark  and 
tall  border  of  pines.  The  warriors  just  arrived  were  the 
most  distant  figures.  A  little  in  advance  stood  two  men, 
who  were  apparently  selected  from  the  rest,  as  the  prin 
cipal  actors  in  what  was  to  follow.  The  light  was  not 


I 
The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  351 

strong  enough  to  render  their  features  distinct,  though  it 
was  quite  evident  that  they  were  governed  by  very  differ 
ent  emotions.  While  one  stood  erect  and  firm,  prepared 
to  meet  his  fate  like  a  hero,  the  other  bowed  his  head, 
as  if  palsied  by  terror  or  stricken  with  shame.  The  high- 
spirited  Duncan  felt  a  powerful  impulse  of  admiration 
and  pity  towards  the  former,  though  no  opportunity 
could  offer  to  exhibit  his  generous  emotions.  He  watched 
his  slightest  movement,  however,  with  eager  eyes;  and 
as  he  traced  the  fine  outline  of  his  admirably  propor 
tioned  and  active  frame,  he  endeavored  to  persuade  him 
self,  that  if  the  powers  of  man,  seconded  by  such  noble 
resolution,  could  bear  one  harmless  through  so  severe 
a'TFial,  the  youthful  captive  before  him  might  hope  for 
%  success  in  the  hazardous  race  he  was  about  to  run.  In 
sensibly  the  young  man  drew  nigher  to  the  swarthy  lines 
of  the  Hurons,  and  scarcely  breathed,  so  intense  became 
his  interest  in  the  spectacle.  Just  then  the  signal  yell 
was  given,  and  the  momentary  quiet  which  had  preceded 
it  was  broken  by  a  burst  of  cries,  that  far  exceeded  any 
before  heard.  The  most  abject  of  the  two  victims  con 
tinued  motionless;  but  the  other  bounded  from  the  place 
at  the  cry,  with  the  activity  and  swiftness  of  a  deer.  In 
stead  of  rushing  through  the  hostile  lines,  as  had  been 
expected,  he  just  entered  the  dangerous  defile,  and  be 
fore  time  was  given  for  a  single  blow,  turned  short,  and 
leaping  the  heads  of  a  row  of  children,  he  gained  at  once 
the  exterior  and  safer  side  of  the  formidable  array.  The 
artifice  was  answered  by  a  hundred  voices  raised  in  im 
precations  ;  and  the  whole  of  the  excited  multitude  broke 
from  their  order,  and  spread  themselves  about  the  place 
in  wild  confusion. 

A  dozen  blazing  piles  now  shed  their  lurid  brightness 


352  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

on  the  place,  which  resembled  some  unhallowed  and  su 
pernatural  arena,  in  which  malicious  demons  had  assem 
bled  to  act  their  bloody  and  lawless  rites.  The  forms  in 
the  background  looked  like  unearthly  beings,  gliding  be 
fore  the  eye,  and  cleaving  the  air  with  frantic  and  un 
meaning  gestures;  while  the  savage  passions  of  such  as 
passed  the  flames,  were  rendered  fearfully  distinct  by 
the  gleams  that  shot  athwart  their  inflamed  visages.*, 

It  will  easily  be  understood,  that  amid  such  a  concourse 
of  vindictive  enemies,  no  breathing  time  was  allowed  the 
fugitive.  There  was  a  single  moment  when  it  seemed  as 
if  he  would  have  reached  the  forest,  but  the  whole  body 
of  his  captors  threw  themselves  before  him,  and  drove 
him  back  into  the  center  of  his  relentless  persecutors. 
Turning  like  a  headed  deer,  he  shot,  with  the  swiftness 
of  an  arrow,  through  a  pillar  of  forked  flame,  and  pass 
ing  the  whole  multitude  harmless,  he  appeared  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  clearing.  Here  too  he  was  met  and 
turned  by  a  few  of  the  older  and  more  subtle  of  the 
Hurons.  Once  more  he  tried  the  throng,  as  if  seeking 
safety  in  its  blindness,  and  then  several  moments  suc 
ceeded,  during  which  Duncan  believed  the  active  and 
courageous  young  stranger  was  lost. 

Nothing  could  be  distinguished  but  a  dark  mass  of 
human  forms  tossed  and  involved  in  inexplicable  confu 
sion.  Arms,  gleaming  knives,  and  formidable  clubs,  ap 
peared  above  them,  but  the  blows  were  evidently  given 
at  random.  The  awful  effect  was  heightened  by  the 
piercing  shrieks  of  the  women  and  the  fierce  yells  of  the 
warriors.  Now  and  then  Duncan  caught  a  glimpse  of 
a  light  form  cleaving  the  air  in  some  desperate  bound, 
and  he  rather  hoped  than  believed  that  the  captive  yet 
retained  the  command  of  his  astonishing  powers  of  ac- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  353 

tivity.  Suddenly  the  multitude  rolled  backward,  and 
approached  the  spot  where  he  himself  stood.  The  heavy 
body  in  the  rear  pressed  upon  the  women  and  children 
in  front,  and  bore  them  to  the  earth.  The  stranger  re 
appeared  in  the  confusion.  Human  power  could  not, 
however,  much  longer  endure  so  severe  a  trial.  Of  this 
the  captive  seemed  conscious.  Profiting  by  the  momen 
tary  opening,  he  darted  from  among  the  warriors,  and 
made  a  desperate,  and,  what  seemed  to  Duncan,  a  final 
effort  to  gain  the  wood.  As  if  aware  that  no  danger  was 
to  be  apprehended  from  the  young  soldier,  the  fugitive 
nearly  brushed  his  person  in  his  flight.  A  tall  and  pow 
erful  Huron,  who  had  husbanded  his  forces,  pressed 
close  upon  his  heels,  and  with  an  uplifted  arm  menaced 
a  fatal  blow.  Duncan  thrust  forth  a  foot,  and  the  shock 
precipitated  the  eager  savage  headlong,  many  feet  in 
advance  of  his  intended  victim.  Thought  itself  is  not 
quicker  than  was  the  motion  with  which  the  latter 
profited  by  the  advantage ;  be  turned,  gleamed  like  a 
meteor  again  before  the  eyes  of  Duncan,  and  at  the  next 
moment,  when  the  latter  recovered  his  recollection,  and 
gazed  around  in  quest  of  the  captive,  he  saw  him  quietly 
leaning  against  a  small  painted  post,  which  stood  before 
the  door  of  the  principal  lodge. 

Apprehensive  that  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  escape 
might  prove  fatal  to  himself,  Duncan  left  the  place  with 
out  delay.  He  followed  the  crowd,  which  drew  nigh  the 
lodges,  gloomy  and  sullen,  like  any  other  multitude  that 
had  been  disappointed  in  an  execution.  Curiosity,  or 
perhaps  a  better  feeling,  induced  him  to  approach  the 
stranger.  He  found  him,  standing  with  one  arm  cast 
about  the  protecting  post,  and  breathing  thick  and  hard, 
after  his  exertions,  but  disdaining  to  permit  a  single  sign 


354  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

of  suffering  to  escape.  His  person  was  now  protected  by 
immemorial  and  sacred  usage,  until  the  tribe  in  council 
had  deliberated  and  determined  on  his  fate.  It  was  not 
difficult,  however,  to  foretell  the  result,  if  any  presage 
could  be  drawn  from  the  feelings  of  those  who  crowded 
the  place. 

There  was  no  term  of  abuse  known  to  the  Huron 
vocabulary  that  the  disappointed  women  did  not  lavisKTy 
expend  on  the  successful  stranger.  They  flouted  at  his 
efforts,  and  told  him,  with  bitter  scoffs,  that  his  feet  were 
better  than  his  hands;  and  that  he  merited  wings,  while 
he  knew  not  the  use  of  an  arrow  or  a  knife.  To  all  this 
the  captive  made  no  reply ;  but  was  content  to  preserve 
an  attitude  in  which  dignity  was  singularly  blended  with 
disdain.  I^xasperated  as  much  by  his  composure  as  by 
his  good-fortune,  their  words  became  unintelligible,  and 
were  succeeded  by  shrill,  piercing  yells.  Just  then  the 
crafty  squaw,  who  had  taken  the  necessary  precaution 
to  fire  the  piles,  made  her  way  through  the  throng,  and 
cleared  a  place  for  herself  in  front  of  the  captive.  The 
squalid  and  withered  person  of  this  hag  might  well  have 
obtained  for  her  the  character  of  possessing  more  than 
human  cunning.  Throwing  back  her  light  vestment,  she 
stretched  forth  her  long  skinny  arm,  in  derision,  and 
using  the  language  of  the  Lenape,  as  more  intelligible  to 
the  subject  of  her  gibes,  she  commenced  aloud, — 

"  Look  you,  Delaware !  "  she  said,  snapping  her  fingers 
in  his  face ;  "  your  nation  is  a  race  of  women,  and  the 
hoe  is  better  fitted  to  your  hands  than  the  gun.  Your 
squaws  are  the  mothers  of  deer;  but  if  a  bear,  or  a  wild 
cat,  or  a  serpent  were  born  among  you,  ye  would  flee. 
The  Huron  girls  shall  make  you  petticoats,  and  we  will 
find  you  a  husband." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  355 

A  burst  of  savage  laughter  succeeded  this  attack,  dur 
ing  which  the  soft  and  musical  merriment  of  the  younger 
females  strangely  chimed  with  the  cracked  voice  of  their 
older  and  more  malignant  companion.  But  the  stranger 
was  superior  to  all  their  efforts.  His  head  was  im 
movable  ;  nor  did  he  betray  the  slightest  consciousness 
that  any  were  present,  except  when  his  haughty  eye 
rolled  towards  the  dusky  forms  of  the  warriors,  who 
stalked  in  the  background,  silent  and  sullen  observers 
of  the  scene. 

Infuriated  at  the  self-command  of  the  captive,  the 
woman  placed  her  arms  akimbo;  and  throwing  herself 
into  a  posture  of  defiance,  she  broke  out  anew,  in  a 
torrent  of  words  that  no  art  of  ours  could  commit  suc 
cessfully  to  paper.  Her  breath  was,  however,  expended 
in  vain ;  for,  although  distinguished  in  her  own  nation  as 
a  proficient  in  the  art  of  abuse,  she  was  permitted  to 
work  herself  into  such  a  fury  as  actually  to  foam  at  the 
mouth,  without  causing  a  muscle  to  vibrate  in  the  mo 
tionless  figure  of  the  stranger.  The  effect  of  his  indiffer 
ence  began  to  extend  itself  to  the  other  spectators;  and 
a  youngster,  who  was  just  quitting  the  condition  of  a 
boy,  to  enter  the  state  of  manhood,  attempted  to  assist 
the  termagant,  by  flourishing  his  tomahawk  before  their 
victim,  and  adding  his  empty  boasts  to  the  taunts  of 
the  woman.  Then,  indeed,  the  captive  turned  his  face 
towards  the  light,  and  looked  down  on  the  stripling  with 
an  expression  that  was  superior  to  contempt.  At  the 
next  moment  he  resumed  his  quiet  and  reclining  attitude 
against  the  post.  But  the  change  of  posture  had  per 
mitted  Duncan  to  exchange  glances  with  the  firm  and 
piercing  eyes  of  Uncas. 

Breathless    with    amazement,    and    heavily    oppressed 


356  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

with  the  critical  situation  of  his  friend,  Hey  ward  re 
coiled  before  the  look,  trembling  lest  its  meaning  might, 
in  some  unknown  manner,  hasten  the  prisoner's  fate. 
There  was  not,  however,  any  instant  cause  for  such  an 
apprehension.  Just  then  a  warrior  forced  his  way  into 
the  exasperated  crowd.  Motioning  the  women  and  chil 
dren  aside  with  a  stern  gesture,  he  took  Uncas  by  the 
arm,  and  Jed  him  towards  the  door  of  the  council  lodge. 
Thither  all  the  chiefs,  and  most  of  the  distinguished  war 
riors,  followed;  among  whom  the  anxious  Heyward 
found  means  to  enter  without  attracting  any  dangerous 
attention  to  himself. 

A  few  minutes  were  consumed  in  disposing  of  those 
present  in  a  manner  suitable  to  their  rank  and  influence 
in  the  tribe.  An  order  very  similar  to  that  adopted  in 
the  preceding  interview  was  observed;  the  aged  and  su 
perior  chiefs  occupying  the  area  of  the  spacious  apart 
ment,  within  the  powerful  light  of  a  glaring  torch,  while 
their  juniors  and  inferiors  were  arranged  in  the  back 
ground,  presenting  a  dark  outline  of  swarthy  and  marked 
visages.  In  the  very  center  of  the  lodge,  immediately 
under  an  opening  that  admitted  the  twinkling  light  of 
one  or  two  stars,  stood  Uncas,  calm,  elevated,  and  col 
lected.  His  high  and  haughty  carriage  was  not  lost  on 
his  captors,  who  often  bent  their  looks  on  his  person, 
with  eyes  which,  while  they  lost  none  of  their  inflexibility 
of  purpose,  plainly  betrayed  their  admiration  of  the 
stranger's  daring. 

The  case  was  different  with  the  individual  whom  Dun 
can  had  observed  to  stand  forth  with  his  friend,  pre 
viously  to  the  desperate  trial  of  speed :  and  who,  instead 
of  joining  in  the  chase,  had  remained,  throughout  its 
turbulent  uproar,  like  a  cringing  statue,  expressive  of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  357 

shame  and  disgrace.  Though  not  a  hand  had  been  ex 
tended  to  greet  him,  nor  yet  an  eye  had  condescended 
to  watch  his  movements,  he  had  also  entered  the  lodge, 
as  though  impelled  by  a  fate  to  whose  decrees  he  sub 
mitted,  seemingly,  without  a  struggle.  Heyward  profited 
by  the  first  opportunity  to  gaze  in  his  face,  secretly  ap 
prehensive  he  might  find  the  features  of  another  ac 
quaintance;  but  they  proved  to  be  those  of  a  stranger, 
and,  what  was  still  more  inexplicable,  of  one  who  bore 
all  the  distinctive  marks  of  a  Huron  warrior.  Instead  of 
mingling  with  his  tribe,  however,  he  sat  apart,  a  solitary 
being  in  a  multitude,  his  form  shrinking  into  a  crouching 
and  abject  attitude,  as  if  anxious  to  fill  as  little  space  as 
possible.  When  each  individual  had  taken  his  proper 
station,  and  silence  reigned  in  the  place,  the  gray-haired 
chief  already  introduced  to  the  reader,  spoke  aloud,  in 
the  language  of  the  Lenni  Lenape. 

"  Delaware,"  he  said,  "  though  one  of  a  nation  of 
women,  you  have  proved  yourself  a  man.  I  would  give 
you  food ;  but  he  who  eats  with  a  Huron  should  become 
his  friend.  Rest  in  peace  till  the  morning  sun,  when  our 
last  words  shall  be  spoken." 

"  Seven  nights,  and  as  many  summer  days,  have  I 
fasted  on  the  trail  of  the  Hurons,"  Uncas  coldly 
replied ;  "  the  children  of  the  Lenape  know  how 
to  travel  the  path  of  the  just  without  lingering  to 
eat." 

"  Two  of  my  young  men  are  in  pursuit  of  your  com 
panion,"  resumed  the  other,  without  appearing  to  regard 
.the  boast  of  his  captive;  "  when  they  get  back,  then  will 
our  wise  men  say  to  you  '  live  '  or  '  die.'  ' 

"  Has  a  Huron  no  ears?  "  scornfully  exclaimed  Uncas; 
"  twice,  since  he  has  been  your  prisoner,  has  the  Dela- 


358  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

ware  heard  a  gun  that  he  knows.  Your  young  men  will 
never  come  back !  " 

A  short  and  sullen  pause  succeeded  this  bold  asser 
tion.  Duncan,  who  understood  the  Mohican  to  allude 
to  the  fatal  rifle  of  the  scout,  bent  forward  in  earnest 
observation  of  the  effect  it  might  produce  on  the  con 
querors;  but  the  chief  was  content  with  simply 
retorting, — 

"If  the  Lenape  are  so  skilful,  why  is  one  of  their 
bravest  warriors  here  ?  " 

"  He  followed  in  the  steps  of  a  flying  coward,  and  fell 
into  a  snare.  The  cunning  beaver  may  be  caught." 

As  Uncas  thus  replied,  he  pointed  with  his  finger  to 
wards  the  solitary  Huron,  but  without  deigning  to  bestow 
any  other  notice  on  so  unworthy  an  object.  The  words 
of  the  answer  and  the  air  of  the  speaker  produced  a 
strong  sensation  among  his  auditors.  Every  eye  rolled 
sullenly  towards  the  individual  indicated  by  the  simple 
gesture,  and  a  low,  threatening  murmur  passed  through 
the  crowd.  The  ominous  sounds  reached  the  outer  door, 
and  the  women  and  children  pressing  into  the  throng, 
no  gap  had  been  left,  between  shoulder  and  shoulder,  that 
was  not  now  filled  with  the  dark  lineaments  of  some 
eager  and  curious  human  countenance. 

In  the  meantime,  the  more  aged  chiefs,  in  the  center, 
communed  with  each  other  in  short  and  broken  sen 
tences.  Not  a  word  was  uttered  that  did  not  convey  the 
meaning  of  the  speaker,  in  the  simplest  and  most  ener 
getic  form.  Again,  a  long  and  deeply  solemn  pause 
took  place.  It  was  known,  by  all  present,  to  be  the 
grave  precursor  of  a  weighty  and  important  judgment. 
They  who  composed  the  outer  circle  of  faces  were  on 
tiptoe  to  gaze;  and  even  the  culprit  for  an  instant  for-* 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  359 

got  his  shame  in  a  deeper  emotion,  and  exposed  his  ab 
ject  features,  in  order  to  cast  an  anxious  and  troubled 
glance  at  the  dark  assemblage  of  chiefs.  The  silence 
was  finally  broken  by  the  aged  warrior  so  often  named. 
He  arose  from  the  earth,  and  moving  past  the  immovable 
form  of  Uncas,  placed  himself  in  a  dignified  attitude 
before  the  offender.  At  that  moment,  the  withered 
squaw  already  mentioned  moved  into  the  circle,  in  a 
slow,  sideling  sort  of  a  dance,  holding  the  torch,  and 
muttering  the  indistinct  words  of  what  might  have  been 
a  species  of  incantation.  Though  her  presence  was  alto 
gether  an  intrusion,  it  was  unheeded. 

Approaching  Uncas,  she  held  the  blazing  brand  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  cast  its  red  glare  on  his  person,  and  to 
expose  the  slightest  emotion  of  his  countenance.  The 
Mohican  maintained  his  firm  and  haughty  attitude;  and 
his  eye,  so  far  from  deigning  to  meet  her  inquisitive  look, 
dwelt  steadily  on  the  distance,  as  though  it  penetrated 
the  obstacles  which  impeded  the  view,  and  looked  into 
futurity.  Satisfied  with  her  examination,  she  left  him, 
with  a  slight  expression  of  pleasure,  and  proceeded  to 
practise  the  same  trying  experiment  on  her  delinquent 
countryman. 

The  young  Huron  was  in  his  war  paint,  and  very 
little  of  a  finely  molded  form  was  concealed  by  his  attire. 
The  light  rendered  every  limb  and  joint  discernible,  and 
Duncan  turned  away  in  horror  when  he  saw  they  were 
writhing  in  irrepressible  agony.  The  woman  was  com 
mencing  a  low  and  plaintive  howl  at  the  sad  and  shameful 
spectacle,  when  the  chief  put  forth  his  hand  and  gently 
pushed  her  aside. 

"  Reed-that-bends,"  he  said,  addressing  the  young  cul 
prit  by  name,  and  in  his  proper  language,  "  though  the 


360  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Great  Spirit  has  made  you  pleasant  to  the  eyes,  it  would 
have  been  better  that  you  had  not  been  born.  Your 
tongue  is  loud  in  the  village,  but  in  battle  it  is  still.  None 
of  my  young  men  strike  the  tomahawk  deeper  into  the 
war-post — none  of  them  so  lightly  on  the  Yengeese.  The 
enemy  know  the  shape  of  your  back,  but  they  have  never 
seen  the  color  of  your  eyes.  Three  times  have  they  called 
on  you  to  come,  and  as  often  did  you  forget  to  answer. 
Your  name  will  never  be  mentioned  again  in  your  tribe — 
it  is  already  forgotten." 

As  the  chief  slowly  uttered  these  words,  pausing  im 
pressively  between  each  sentence,  the  culprit  raised  his 
face,  in  deference  to  the  other's  rank  and  years.  Shame, 
horror,  and  pride  struggled  in  its  lineaments.  His  eye, 
which  was  contracted  with  inward  anguish,  gleamed  on 
the  persons  of  those  whose  breath  was  his  fame ;  and 
the  latter  emotion  for  an  instant  predominated.  He 
arose  to  his  feet,  and  baring  his  bosom,  looked  steadily 
on  the  keen,  glittering  knife,  that  was  already  upheld  by 
his  inexorable  judge.  As  the  weapon  passed  slowly  into 
his  heart  he  even  smiled,  as  if  in  joy  at  having  found 
death  less  dreadful  than  he  had  anticipated,  and  fell 
heavily  on  his  face,  at  the  feet  of  the  rigid  and  unyield 
ing  form  of  Uncas. 

The  squaw  gave  a  loud  and  plaintive  yell,  dashed  the 
torch  to  the  earth,  and  buried  everything  in  darkness. 
The  whole  shuddering  group  of  spectators  glided  from 
the  lodge,  like  troubled  sprites ;  and  Duncan  thought  that 
he  and  the  yet  throbbing  body  of  the  victim  of  an  Indian 
judgment  had  now  become  its  only  tenants. 


CHAPTER 
XXIV. 


"Thus  spoke  the  sage:  the  kings  without  delay 
Dissolve  the  council,  and  their  chief  obey." 

POPE'S  Iliad. 

A  SINGLE  moment  served  to  convince  the  youth 
that  he  was  mistaken.  A  hand  was  laid,  with  a 
powerful  pressure,  on  his  arm,  and  the  low  voice  of 
Vncas  muttered  in  his  ears,— 

"  The  Hurons  are  dogs.  The  sight  of  a  coward's 
blood  can  never  make  a  warrior  tremble.  The  '  Gray 
Head  '  and  the  Sagamore  are  safe,  and  the  rifle  of  Hawk- 
eye  is  not  asleep.  Go, — Uncas  and  the  '  Open  Hand  '  are 
now  strangers.  It  is  enough." 

Heyward  would  gladly  have  heard  more,  but  a  gentle 
push  from  his  friend  urged  him  towards  the  door,  and 
admonished  him  of  the  danger  that  might  attend  the 
discovery  of  their  intercourse.  Slowly  and  reluctantly 
yielding  to  the  necessity,  he  quitted  the  place,  and 
mingled  with  the  throng  that  hovered  nigh.  The  dying 
fires  in  the  clearing  cast  a  dim  and  uncertain  light  on  the 
dusky  figures  that  were  silently  stalking  to  and  fro ;  and 
occasionally  a  brighter  gleam  than  common  glanced  into 

361 


362  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  lodge,  and  exhibited  the  figure  of  Uncas  still  main 
taining  its  upright  attitude  near  the  dead  body  of  the 
Huron. 

A  knot  of  warriors  soon  entered  the  place  again,  and 
reissuing,  they  bore  the  senseless  remains  into  the  adja 
cent  woods.  After  this  termination  of  the  scene,  Dun 
can  wandered  among  the  lodges,  unquestioned  and  un 
noticed,  endeavoring  to  find  some  trace  of  her  in  whose 
behalf  he  incurred  the  risk  he  ran.  In  the  present  temper 
of  the  tribe,  it  would  have  been  easy  to  have  fled  and 
rejoined  his  companions,  had  such  a  wish  crossed  his 
mind.  But,  in  addition  to  the  never-ceasing  anxiety  on 
account  of  Alice,  a  fresher,  though  feebler  interest  in 
the  fate  of  Uncas  assisted  to  chain  him  to  the  spot.  He 
continued,  therefore,  to  stray  from  hut  to  hut,  looking 
into  each  only  to  encounter  additional  disappointment, 
until  he  had  made  the  entire  circuit  of  the  village.  Aban 
doning  a  species  of  inquiry  that  proved  so  fruitless,  he 
retraced  his  steps  to  the  council  lodge,  resolved  to 
seek  and  question  David,  in  order  to  put  an  end  to  his 
doubts. 

On  reaching  the  building  which  had  proved  alike  the 
seat  of  judgment  and  the  place  of  execution,  the  young 
man  found  that  the  excitement  had  already  subsided. 
The  warriors  had  reassembled,  and  were  now  calmly 
smoking,  while  they  conversed  gravely  on  the  chief  inci 
dents  of  their  recent  expedition  to  the  head  of  the 
Horican.  Though  the  return  of  Duncan  was  likely  to 
remind  them  of  his  character,  and  the  suspicious  cir 
cumstances  of  his  visit,  it  produced  no  visible  sensation. 
So  far,  the  terrible  scene  that  had  just  occurred  proved 
favorable  to  his  views,  and  he  required  no  other 
prompter  than  his  own  feelings  to  convince  him  of  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  363 

expediency  of  profiting  by  so  unexpected  an  advan 
tage. 

Without  seeming  to  hesitate,  he  walked  into  the  lodge, 
and  took  his  seat  with  a  gravity  that  accorded  admirably 
with  the  deportment  of  his  hosts.  A  hasty  but  searching 
glance  sufficed  to  tell  him  that,  though  Uncas  still  re 
mained  where  he  had  left  him,  David  had  not  reap 
peared.  No  other  restraint  was  imposed  on  the  former 
than  the  watchful  looks  of  a  young  Huron,  who  had 
placed  himself  at  hand ;  though  an  armed  warrior  leaned 
against  the  post  that  formed  one  side  of  the  narrow 
doorway.  In  every  other  respect,  the  captive  seemed  at 
liberty;  still  he  was  excluded  from  all  participation  in 
the  discourse,  and  possessed  much  more  of  the  air  of 
some  finely  molded  statue  than  a  man  having  life  and 
volition. 

Heyward  had  too  recently  witnessed  a  frightful  in 
stance  of  the  prompt  punishments  of  the  people  into 
whose  hands  he  had  fallen,  to  hazard  an  exposure  by  any 
officious  boldness.  He  would  greatly  have  preferred  si 
lence  and  meditation  to  speech,  when  a  discovery  of  his 
real  condition  might  prove  so  instantly  fatal.  Unfortu 
nately  for  this  prudent  resolution,  his  entertainers 
appeared  otherwise  disposed.  He  had  not  long  occupied 
the  seat  wisely  taken  a  little  in  the  shade,  when  another 
of  the  elder  warriors,  who  spoke  the  French  language, 
addressed  him: — 

"  My  Canada  father  does  not  forget  his  children,"  said 
the  chief ;  "  I  thank  him.  An  evil  spirit  lives  in  the 
wife  of  one  of  my  young  men.  Can  the  cunning  stranger 
frighten  him  away  ?  " 

Heyward  possessed  some  knowledge  of  the  mummery 
practised  among  the  Indians,  in  the  cases  of  such  sup- 


364  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

posed  visitations.  He  saw,  at  a  glance,  that  the  circum 
stance  might  possibly  be  improved  to  further  his  own 
end.  It  would,  therefore,  have  been  difficult,  just  then, 
to  have  uttered  a  proposal  that  would  have  given  him 
more  satisfaction.  Aware  of  the  necessity  of  preserving 
the  dignity  of  his  imaginary  character,  however,  he 
repressed  his  feelings,  and  answered  with  suitable 
mystery, — 

"Spirits  differ;  some  yield  to  the  power  of  wisdom, 
while  others  are  too  strong." 

"  My  brother  is  a  great  medicine,"  said  the  cunning 
savage ;  "  he  will  try  ?  " 

A  gesture  of  assent  was  the  answer.  The  Huron  was 
content  with  the  assurance,  and  resuming  his  pipe,  he 
awaited  the  proper  moment  to  move.  The  impatient 
Heyward,  inwardly  execrating  the  cold  customs  of  the 
savages,  which  required  such  sacrifices  to  appearance, 
was  fain  to  assume  an  air  of  indifference, -equal  to  that 
maintained  by  the  chief,  who  was,  in  truth,  a  near  rela 
tive  of  the  afflicted  woman.  The  minutes  lingered,  and 
the  delay  had  seemed  an  hour  to  the  adventurer  in  em 
piricism,  when  the  Huron  laid  aside  his  pipe,  and  drew 
his  robe  across  his  breast,  as  if  about  to  lead  the  way 
to  the  lodge  of  the  invalid.  Just  then,  a  warrior  of  pow 
erful  frame  darkened  the  door,  and  stalking  silently 
among  the  attentive  group,  he  seated  himself  on  one 
end  of  the  low  pile  of  brush  which  sustained  Duncan. 
The  latter  cast  an  impatient  look  at  his  neighbor,  and  felt 
his  flesh  creep  with  uncontrollable  horror  when  he  found 
himself  in  actual  contact  with  Magua. 

The  sudden  return  of  this  artful  and  dreaded  chief 
caused  a  delay  in  the  departure  of  the  Huron.  Several 
pipes,  that  had  been  extinguished,  were  lighted  again ; 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  365 

while  the  newcomer,  without  speaking  a  word,  drew  his 
tomahawk  from  his  girdle,  and  filling  the  bowl  on  its 
head,  began  to  inhale  the  vapors  of  the  weed  through 
the  hollow  handle,  with  as  much  indifference  as  if  he 
had  not  been  absent  two  weary  days  on  a  long  and  toil 
some  hunt.  Ten  minutes,  which  appeared  so  many  ages 
to  Duncan,  might  have  passed  in  this  manner;  and  the 
warriors  were  fairly  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  white  smoke 
before  any  of  them  spoke. 

"  Welcome !  "  one  at  length  uttered ;  "  has  my  friend 
found  the  moose  ?  " 

"  The  young  men  stagger  under  their  burdens/'  re 
turned  Magua.  "  Let  '  Reed-that-bends '  go  on  the 
hunting-path;  he  will  meet  them." 

A  deep  and  awful  silence  succeeded  the  utterance  of 
the  forbidden  name.  Each  pipe  dropped  from  the  lips 
of  its  owner  as  though  all  had  inhaled  an  impurity  at 
the  same  instant.  The  smoke  wreathed  above  their  heads 
in  little  eddies,  and  curling  in  a  spiral  form,  it  ascended 
swiftly  through  the  opening  in  the  roof  of  the  lodge, 
leaving  the  place  beneath  clear  of  its  fumes,  and  each 
dark  visage  distinctly  visible.  The  looks  of  most  of  the 
warriors  were  riveted  on  the  earth;  though  a  few  of  the 
younger  and  less  gifted  of  the  party  suffered  their  wild 
and  glaring  eyeballs  to  roll  in  the  direction  of  a  white- 
headed  savage,  who  sat  between  two  of  the  most  ven 
erated  chiefs  of  the  tribe.  There  was  nothing  in  the 
air  or  attire  of  this  Indian  that  would  seem  to  entitle 
him  to  such  a  distinction.  The  former  was  rather  de 
pressed,  than  remarkable  for  the  bearing  of  the  natives; 
and  the  latter  was  such  as  was  commonly  worn  by  the 
ordinary  men  of  the  nation.  Like  most  around  him, 
for  more  than  a  minute  his  look  too  was  on  the  ground ; 


366  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

but,  trusting  his  eyes  at  length  to  steal  a  glance  aside, 
he  perceived  that  he  was  becoming  an  object  of  general 
attention.  Then  he  arose  and  lifted  his  voice  in  the 
general  silence. 

"  It  was  a  lie,"  he  said ;  "  I  had  no  son.  He  who  was 
called  by  that  name  is  forgotten ;  his  blood  was  pale,  and 
it  came  not  from  the  veins  of  a  Huron ;  the  wicked  Chip- 
pewas  cheated  my  squaw.  The  Great  Spirit  has  said, 
that  the  family  of  Wiss-entush  should  end;  he  is  happy 
who  knows  that  the  evil  of  his  race  dies  with  himself. 
I  have  done." 

The  speaker,  who  was  the  father  of  the  recreant  young 
Indian,  looked  round  and  about  him,  as  if  seeking  com 
mendation  of  his  stoicism  in  the  eyes  of  his  auditors. 
But  the  stern  customs  of  his  people  had  made  too  severe 
an  exaction  of  the  feeble  old  man.  The  expression  of 
his  eye  contradicted  his  figurative  and  boastful  language, 
while  every  muscle  in  his  wrinkled  visage  was  working 
with  anguish.  Standing  a  single  minute  to  enjoy  his  bit 
ter  triumph,  he  turned  away,  as  if  sickening  at  the  gaze 
of  men,  and  veiling  his  face  in  his  blanket,  he  walked 
from  the  lodge  with  the  noiseless  step  of  an  Indian, 
seeking,  in  the  privacy  of  his  own  abode,  the  sympathy 
of  one  like  himself,  aged,  forlorn,  and  childless. 

The  Indians,  who  believe  in  the  hereditary  transmis 
sion  of  virtues  and  defects  in  character,  suffered  him  to 
depart  in  silence.  Then,  with  an  elevation  of  breeding 
that  many  in  a  more  cultivated  state  of  society  might 
profitably  emulate,  one  of  the  chiefs  drew  the  attention 
of  the  young  men  from  the  weakness  they  had  just  wit 
nessed,  by  saying,  in  a  cheerful  voice,  addressing  himself 
in  courtesy  to  Magua,  as  the  newest  comer, — 

"  The  Delawares  have  been  like  bears  after  the  honey- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  367 

pots,  prowling  around  my  village.  But  who  has  ever 
found  a  Huron  asleep  ?  " 

The  darkness  of  the  impending  cloud  which  precedes 
a  burst  of  thunder  was  not  blacker  than  the  brow  of 
Magua  as  he  exclaimed, — 

"The  Delawares  of  the  Lakes!" 

"  Not  so.  They  who  wear  the  petticoats  of  squaws, 
on  their  own  river.  One  of  them  has  been  passing  the 
tribe." 

"  Did  my  young  men  take  his  scalp  ?  " 

"  His  legs  were  good,  though  his  arm  is  better  for 
the  hoe  than  the  tomahawk/'  returned  the  other,  point 
ing  to  the  immovable  form  of  Uncas. 

Instead  of  manifesting  any  womanish  curiosity  to  feast 
his  eyes  with  the  sight  of  a  captive  from  a  people  he  was 
known  to  have  so  much  reason  to  hate,  Magua  continued 
toxsmoke,,  with  the  meditative  air  that  he  usually  main 
tained,  when  there  was  no  immediate  call  on  his  cunning 
or  his  eloquence.  Although  secretly  amazed  at  the  facts 
communicated  by  the  speech  of  the  aged  father,  he  per 
mitted  himself  to  ask  no  questions,  reserving  his  inquiries 
for  a  more  suitable  moment.  It  was  only  after  a  suffi 
cient  interval  that  he  shook  the  ashes  from  his  pipe,  re 
placed  the  tomahawk,  tightened  his  girdle,  and  arose, 
casting  for  the  first  time  a  glance  in  the  direction  of  the 
prisoner,  who  stood  a  little  behind  him.  The  wary, 
though  seemingly  abstracted  Uncas,  caught  a  glimpse  of 
the  movement,  and  turning  suddenly  to  the  light,  their 
looks  met.  Near  a  minute  these  two  bold  and  untamed 
spirits  stood  regarding  one  another  steadily  in  the  eye, 
neither  quailing  in  the  least  before  the  fierce  gaze  he 
encountered.  The  form  of  Uncas  dilated,  and  his  nos 
trils  opened  like  those  of  a  tiger  at  bay ;  but  so  rigid  and 


368  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

unyielding  was  his  posture,  that  he  might  easily  have 
been  converted  by  the  imagination  into  an  exquisite  and 
faultless  representation  of  the  warlike  deity  of  his  tribe. 
The  lineaments  of  the  quivering  features  of  Magua 
proved  more  ductile ;  his  countenance  gradually  lost  its 
character  of  defiance  in  an  expression  of  ferocious  joy, 
and  heaving  a  breath  from  the  very  bottom  of  his  chest, 
he  pronounced  aloud  the  very  formidable  name  of— 

"  Le  Cerf  Agile !  " 

Each  warrior  sprang  upon  his  feet  at  the  utterance  of 
.the  well-known  appellation,  and  there  was  a  short  period 
during  which  the  stoical  constancy  of  the  natives  was 
completely  conquered  by  surprise.  The  hated  and  yet 
respected  name  was  repeated  as  by  one  voice,  carrying 
the  sound  even  beyond  the  limits  of  the  lodge.  The 
women  and  children,  who  lingered  around  the  entrance, 
took  up  the  words  in  an  echo;  which  was  succeeded  by 
another  shrill  and  plaintive  howl.  The  latter  was  not 
yet  ended,  when  the  sensation  among  the  men  had  en 
tirely  abated.  Each  one  in  presence  seated  himself,  as 
though  ashamed  of  his  precipitation ;  but  it  was  many 
minutes  before  their  meaning  eyes  ceased  to  roll  towards 
their  captive,  in  curious  examination  of  a  warrior  who 
had  so  often  proved  his  prowess  on  the  best  and  proudest 
of  their  nation.  Uncas  enjoyed  his  victory,  but  was  con 
tent  with  merely  exhibiting  his  triumph  by  a  quiet 
smile — an  emblem  of  scorn  which  belongs  to  all  time 
and  every  nation. 

Magua  caught  the  expression,  and  raising  his  arm,  he 
shook  it  at  the  captive,  the  light  silver  ornaments  at 
tached  to  his  bracelet  rattling  with  the  trembling  agita 
tion  of  the  limb,  as,  in  a  tone  of  vengeance,  he  exclaimed, 
in  English, — 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  369 

"  Mohican,  you  die  !  " 

"  The  healing  waters  will  never  bring  the  dead  Hurons 
to  life,"  returned  Uncas,  in  the  music  of  the  Delawares; 
"  the  tumbling  river  washes  their  bones ;  their  men  are 
squaws ;  their  women  owls.  Go !  call  together  the  Huron 
dogs,  that  they  may  look  upon  a  warrior.  My  nostrils 
are  offended;  they  scent  the  blood  of  a  coward." 

The  latter  allusion  struck  deep,  and  the  injury  rankled. 
Many  of  the  Hurons  understood  the  strange  tongue  in 
which  the  captive  spoke,  among  which  number  was 
Magua.  This  cunning  savage  beheld,  and  instantly 
profited  by  his  advantage.  Dropping  the  light  robe  of 
skin  from  his  shoulder,  he  stretched  forth  his  arm,  and 
commenced  a  burst  of  his  dangerous  and  artful  elo 
quence.  However  much  his  influence  among  his  people 
had  been  impaired  by  his  occasional  and  besetting  weak 
ness,  as  well  as  by  his  desertion  of  the  tribe,  his  courage 
and  his  fame  as  an  orator  were  undeniable.  He  never 
spoke  without  auditors,  and  rarely  without  making  con 
verts  to  his  opinions.  On  the  present  occasion,  his  na 
tive  powers  were  stimulated  by  the  thirst  of  revenge. 

He  again  recounted  the  events  of  the  attack  on  the 
island  at  Glenn's,  the  death  of  his  associates,  and  the 
escape  of  their  most  formidable  enemies.  Then  he  de 
scribed  the  nature  and  position  of  the  mount  whither 
he  had  led  such  captives  as  had  fallen  into  their  hands. 
Of  his  own  bloody  intentions  towards  the  maidens,  and 
of  his  bafHed  malice  he  made  no  mention,  but  passed 
rapidly  on  to  the  surprise  of  the  party  by  La  Longue 
Carabine,  and  its  fatal  termination.  Here  he  paused,  and 
looked  about  him,  in  affected  veneration  for  the  departed, 
but,  in  truth,  to  note  the  effect  of  his  opening  narrative. 
As  usual,  every  eye  was  riveted  on  his  face.  Each  dusky 


370  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

figure  seemed  a  breathing  statue,  so  motionless  was  the 
posture,  so  intense  the  attention  of  the  individual. 

Then  Magua  dropped  his  voice,  which  had  hitherto 
been  clear,  strong,  and  elevated,  and  touched  upon  the 
merits  of  the  dead.  No  quality  that  was  likely  to  com 
mand  the  sympathy  of  an  Indian  escaped  his  notice.  One 
had  never  been  known  to  follow  the  chase  in  vain;  an 
other  had  been  indefatigable  on  the  trail  of  their  enemies. 
This  was  brave,  that  generous.  In  short,  he  so  managed 
his  allusions,  that  in  a  nation,  which  was  composed 
of  so  few  families,  he  contrived  to  strike  every  chord 
that  might  find,  in  its  turn,  some  breast  in  which  to 
vibrate. 

"  Are  the  bones  of  my  young  men,"  he  concluded,  "  in 
the  burial-place  of  the  Hurons  ?  You  know  they  are  not. 
Their  spirits  are  gone  towards  the  setting  sun,  and  are 
already  crossing  the  great  waters,  to  the  happy  hunting- 
grounds.  But  they  departed  without  food,  without  guns 
or  knives,  without  moccasins,  naked  and  poor  as  they 
.were  born.  Shall  this  be?  Are  their  souls  to  enter  the 
land  of  the  just  like  hungry  Iroquois  or  unmanly  Dela- 
wares ;  or  shall  they  meet  their  friends  with  arms  in  their 
hands  and  robes  on  their  backs?  What  will  our  fathers 
think  the  tribes  of  the  Wyandots  have  become?  -They 
will  look  on  their  children  with  a  dark  eye,  and  say,  Go ! 
a  Chippewa  has  come  hither  with  the  name  of  a  Huron. 
Brothers,  we  must  not  forget  the  dead;  a  redskin  never 
ceases  to  remember.  We  will  load  the  back  of  this 
Mohican  until  he  staggers  under  our  bounty,  and 
despatch  him  after  my  young  men.  They  call  to  us  for 
aid,  though  our  ears  are  not  open;  they  say,  Forget  us 
not.  When  they  see  the  spirit  of  this  Mohican  toiling 
after  them  with  his  burden,  they  will  know  we  are  of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  371 

that  mind.  Then  will  they  go  on  happy;  and  our  chil 
dren  will  say,  '  So  did  our  fathers  to  their  friends,  so 
must  we  do  to  them.'  What  is  a  Yengee?  we  have  slain 
many,  but  the  earth  is  still  pale.  A  stain  on  the  name  of 
a  Huron  can  only  be  hid  by  blood  that  comes  from  the 
veins  of  an  Indian.  Let  this  Delaware  die." 

The  effect  of  such  an  harangue,  delivered  in  the  nerv 
ous  language  and  with  the  emphatic  manner  of  a  Huron 
orator,  could  scarcely  be  mistaken.  Magua  had  so  art 
fully  blended  the  natural  sympathies  with  the  religious 
superstition  of  his  auditors,  that  their  minds,  already 
prepared  by  custom  to  sacrifice  a  victim  to  the  manes 
of  their  countrymen,  lost  every  vestige  of  humanity  in 
a  wish  for  revenge.  One  warrior  in  particular,  a  man 
of  wild  and  ferocious  mien,  had  been  conspicuous  for 
the  attention  he  had  given  to  the  words  of  the  speaker. 
His  countenance  had  changed  with  each  passing  emotion, 
until  it  settled  into  a  look  of  deadly  malice.  As  Magua 
ended  he  arose,  and  uttering  the  yell  of  a  demon,  his 
polished  little  ax  was  seen  glancing  in  the  torch-light  as 
he  whirled  it  above  his  head.  The  motion  and  the  cry 
were  too  sudden  for  words  to  interrupt,  his  bloody  inten 
tion.  It  appeared  as  if  a  bright  gleam  shot  from  his 
hand,  which  was  crossed  at  the  same  moment  by  a  dark 
and  powerful  line.  The  former  was  the  tomahawk  in 
its  passage;  the  latter  the  arm  that  Magua  darted  for 
ward  to  divert  its  aim.  The  quick  and  ready  motion  of 
the  chief  was  not  entirely  too  late.  The  keen  weapon  cut 
the  war-plume  from  the  scalping-tuft  of  Uncas,  and 
passed  through  the  frail  wall  of  the  lodge,  as  though  it 
were  hurled  from  some  formidable  engine. 

Duncan  had  seen  the  threatening  action,  and  sprang 
upon  his  feet,  with  a  heart  which,  while  it  leaped  into 


372  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

his  throat,  swelled  with  the  most  generous  resolution  in 
behalf  of  his  friend.  A  glance  told  him  that  the  blow 
had  failed,  and  terror  changed  to  admiration.  Uncas 
stood  still,  looking  his  enemy  in  the  eye  with  features 
that  seemed  superior  to  emotion.  Marble  could  not  be 
colder,  calmer,  or  steadier  than  the  countenance  he  put 
upon  this  sudden  and  vindictive  attack.  Then,  as  if 
pitying  a  want  of  skill  which  had  proved  so  fortunate  to 
himself,  he  smiled,  and  muttered  a  few  words  of  con 
tempt  in  his  own  tongue. 

"No!"  said  Magua,  after  satisfying  himself  of  the 
safety  of  the  captive ;  "  the  sun  must  shine  on  his  shame ; 
the  squaws  must  see  his  flesh  tremble,  or  our  revenge  will 
be  like  the  play  of  boys.  Go!  take  him  where  there  is 
silence;  let  us  see  if  a  Delaware  can  sleep  at  night,  and 
in  the  morning  die." 

The  young  men  whose  duty  it  was  to  guard  the  pris 
oner  instantly  passed  their  ligaments  of  bark  across  his 
arms,  and  led  him  from  the  lodge,  amid  a  profound  and 
ominous  silence.  It  was  only  as  the  figure  of  Uncas 
stood  in  the  opening  of  the  door  that  his  firm  step  hesi 
tated.  There  he  turned,  and,  in  the  sweeping  and  haughty 
glance  that  he  threw  around  the  circle  of  his  enemies, 
Duncan  caught  a  look  which  he  was  glad  to  construe  into 
an  expression  that  he  was  not  entirely  deserted  by  hope. 

Magua  was  content  with  his  success,  or  too  much  oc 
cupied  with  his  secret  purposes  to  push  his  inquiries  any 
further.  Shaking  his  mantle,  and  folding  it  on  his  bosom, 
he  also  quitted  the  place,  without  pursuing  a  subject 
which  might  have  proved  so  fatal  to  the  individual  at  his 
elbow.  Notwithstanding  his  rising  resentment,  his  nat 
ural  firmness,  and  his  anxiety  in  behalf  of  Uncas,  Hey- 
ward  felt  sensibly  relieved  by  the  absence  of  so  danger- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  373 

ous  and  so  subtle  a  foe.  The  excitement  produced  by 
the  speech  gradually  subsided.  The  warriors  resumed 
their  seats,  and  clouds  of  smoke  once  more  filled  the 
lodge.  For  near  half  an  hour,  not  a  syllable  was  uttered, 
or  scarcely  a  look  cast  aside;  a  grave  and  meditative 
silence  being  the  ordinary  succession  to  every  scene  of 
violence  and  commotion  among  those  beings,  who  were 
alike  so  impetuous  and  yet  so  self-restrained. 

When  the  chief  who  had  solicited  the  aid  of  Duncan 
finished  his  pipe,  he  made  a  final  and  successful  move 
ment  towards  departing.  A  motion  of  a  finger  was  the 
intimation  he  gave  the  supposed  physician  to  follow ;  and 
passing  through  the  clouds  of  smoke,  Duncan  was  glad, 
on  more  accounts  than  one,  to  be  able,  at  last,  to  breathe 
the  pure  air  of  a  cool  and  refreshing  summer  evening. 

Instead  of  pursuing  his  way  among  those  lodges 
where  Heyward  had  already  made  his  unsuccessful 
search,  his  companion  turned  aside,  and  proceeded  di 
rectly  towards  the  base  of  an  adjacent  mountain,  which 
overhung  the  temporary  village.  A  thicket  of  brush 
skirted  its  foot,  and  it  became  necessary  to  proceed 
through  a  crooked  and  narrow  path.  The  boys  had  re 
sumed  their  sports  in  the  clearing,  and  were  enacting  a 
mimic  chase  to  the  post  among  themselves.  In  order  to 
render  their  games  as  like  the  reality  as  possible,  one  of 
the  boldest  of  their  number  had  conveyed  a  few  brands 
into  some  piles  of  tree-tops  that  had  hitherto  escaped 
the  burning.  The  blaze  of  one  of  these  fires  lighted  the 
way  of  the  chief  and  Duncan,  and  gave  a  character  of 
additional  wildness  to  the  rude  scenery.  At  a  little  dis 
tance  from  a  bald  rock,  and  directly  in  its  front,  they 
entered  a  grassy  opening,  which  they  prepared  to  cross. 
Just  then  fresh  fuel  was  added  to  the  fire,  and  a  powerful 


374  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

light  penetrated  even  to  that  distant  spot.  It  fell  upon 
the  white  surface  of  the  mountain,  and  was  reflected 
downwards  upon  a  dark  and  mysterious-looking  being 
that  arose,  unexpectedly,  in  their  path. 

The  Indian  paused,  as  if  doubtful  whether  to  proceed, 
and  permitted  his  companion  to  approach  his  side.  A 
large  black  ball,  which  at  first  seemed  stationary,  now 
began  to  move  in  a  manner  that  to  the  latter  was  inex 
plicable.  Again  the  fire  brightened,  and  its  glare  fell 
more  distinctly  on  the  object.  Then  even  Duncan  knew 
it,  by  its  restless  and  sideling  attitudes,  which  kept  the 
upper  part  of  its  form  in  constant  motion,  while  the 
animal  itself  appeared  seated,  to  be  a  bear.  Though  it 
growled  loudly  and  fiercely,  and  there  were  instants 
when  its  glistening  eyeballs  might  be  seen,  it  gave  no 
other  indications  of  hostility.  The  Huron,  at  least, 
seemed  assured  that  the  intentions  of  this  singular  in 
truder  were  peaceable,  for  after  giving  it  an  attentive 
examination,  he  quietly  pursued  his  course. 

Duncan,  who  knew  that  the  animal  was  often  domesti 
cated  among  the  Indians,  followed  the  example  of  his 
companion,  believing  that  some  favorite  of  the  tribe  had 
.found  its  way  into  the  thicket,  in  search  of  food.  They 
passed  it  unmolested.  Though  obliged  to  come  nearly 
in  contact  with  the  monster,  the  Huron,  who  had  at  first 
so  warily  determined  the  character  of  his  strange  visitor, 
was  now  content  with  proceeding  without  wasting  a  mo 
ment  in  further  examination;  but  Heyward  was  unable 
to  prevent  his  eyes  from  looking  backward,  in  salutary 
watchfulness  against  attacks  in  the  rear.  His  uneasi 
ness  was  in  no  degree  diminished  when  he  perceived  the 
beast  rolling  along  their  path,  and  following  their  foot 
steps.  He  would  have  spoken,  but  the  Indian  at  that 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  375 

moment  shoved  aside  a  door  of  bark,  and  entered  a  cav 
ern  in  the  bosom  of  the  mountain. 

Profiting  by  so  easy  a  method  of  retreat,  Duncan 
stepped  after  him,  and  was  gladly  closing  the  slight 
cover  to  the  opening,  when  he  felt  it  drawn  from  his  hand 
by  the  beast,  whose  shaggy  form  immediately  darkened 
the  passage.  They  were  now  in  a  straight  and  long  gal 
lery,  in  a  chasm  of  the  rocks,  where  retreat  without  en 
countering  the  animal  was  impossible.  Making  the  best 
of  the  circumstances,  the  young  man  pressed  forward, 
keeping  as  close  as  possible  to  his  conductor.  The  bear 
growled  frequently  at  his  heels,  and  once  or  twice  its 
enormous  paws  were  laid  on  his  person,  as  if  disposed 
to  prevent  his  further  passage  into  the  den. 

How  long  the  nerves  of  Heyward  would  have  sus 
tained  him  in  this  extraordinary  situation,  it  might  be 
difficult  to  decide;  for,  happily,  he  soon  found  relief.  A 
glimmer  of  light  had  constantly  been  in  their  front,  and 
they  now  arrived  at  the  place  whence  it  proceeded. 

A  large  cavity  in  the  rock  had  been  rudely  fitted  to 
answer  the  purposes  of  many  apartments.  The  sub 
divisions  were  simple  but  ingenious,  being  composed  of 
stone,  sticks,  and  bark,  intermingled.  Openings  above 
admitted  the  light  by  day,  and  at  night  fires  and  torches 
supplied  the  place  of  the  sun.  Hither  the  Hurons  had 
brought  most  of  their  valuables,  especially  those  which 
more  particularly  pertained  to  the  nation;  and  hither, 
as  it  now  appeared,  the  sick  woman,  who  was  believed 
to  be  the  victim  of  supernatural  power,  had  been  trans 
ported  also,  under  an  impression  that  her  tormentor 
would  find  more  difficulty  in  making  his  assaults  through 
walls  of  stone  than  through  the  leafy  coverings  of  the 
lodges.  The  apartment  into  which  Duncan  and  his  guide 


376  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

first  entered,  had  been  exclusively  devoted  to  her  ac 
commodation.  The  latter  approached  her  bedside,  which 
was  surrounded  by  females,  in  the  center  of  whom  Hey- 
ward  was  surprised  to  find  his  missing  friend  David. 

A  single  look  was  sufficient  to  apprise  the  pretended 
leech  that  the  invalid  was  far  beyond  his  powers  of  heal 
ing.  She  lay  in  a  sort  of  paralysis,  indifferent  to  the 
objects  which  crowded  before  her  sight,  and  happily 
unconscious  of  suffering.  Heyward  was  far  from  re 
gretting  that  his  mummeries  were  to  be  performed  on 
one  who  was  much  too  ill  to  take  an  interest  in  their 
failure  or  success.  The  slight  qualm  of  conscience  which 
had  been  excited  by  the  intended  deception  was  instantly 
appeased,  and  he  began  to  collect  his  thoughts,  in  order 
to  enact  his  part  with  suitable  spirit,  when  he  found  he 
was  about  to  be  anticipated  in  his  skill  by  an  attempt  to 
prove  the  power  of  music. 

Gamut,  who  had  stood  prepared  to  pour  forth  his 
spirit  in  song  when  the  visitors  entered,  after  delaying 
a  moment,  drew  a  strain  from  his  pipe,  and  commenced  a 
hymn  that  might  have  worked  a  miracle,  had  faith  in 
its  efficacy  been  of  much  avail.  He  was  allowed  to  pro 
ceed  to  the  close,  the  Indians  respecting  his  imaginary 
infirmity,  and  Duncan  too  glad  of  the  delay  to  hazard 
the  slightest  interruption.  As  the  dying  cadence  of  his 
strains  ~was  falling  on  the  ears  of  the  latter,  he  started 
aside  at  hearing  them  repeated  behind  him  in  a  voice 
half-human,  half-sepulchral.  Looking  around,  he  beheld 
the  shaggy  monster  seated  on  end  in  a  shadow  of  the  cav 
ern,  where,  while  his  restless  body  swung  in  the  uneasy 
manner  of  the  animal,  it  repeated,  in  a  sort  of  low  growl, 
sounds  if  not  words,  which  bore  some  slight  resemblance 
to  the  melody  of  the  singer. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  377 

The  effect  of  so  strange  an  echo  on  David  may  better 
be  imagined  than  described.  His  eyes  opened  as  if  he 
doubted  their  truth ;  and  his  voice  became  instantly  mute 
in  excess  of  wonder.  A  deep-laid  scheme,  of  communi 
cating  some  important  intelligence  to  Heyward,  was 
driven  from  his  recollection  by  an  emotion  which  very 
nearly  resembled  fear,  but  which  he  was  fain  to  believe 
was  admiration.  Under  its  influence,  he  exclaimed 
aloud — "  She  expects  you,  and  is  at  hand ;"  and  pre 
cipitately  left  the  cavern. 


CHAPTER 
XXV. 


"  Snug. — Have  you  the  lion's  part  written  ?     Pray  you,  if  it  be, 
give  it  me,  for  I  am  slow  of  study. 

"  Quince. — You  may   do   it   extempore,   for  it  is   nothing  but 
roaring." 

Midsummer  Night's  Dream. 

THERE  was  a  strange  blending  of  the  ridiculous 
with  that  which  was  solemn  in  this  scene.  The 
beast  still  continued  its  rolling,  and  apparently  untiring 
movements,  though  its  ludicrous  attempt  to  imitate  the 
melody  of  David  ceased  the  instant  the  latter  aban 
doned  the  field.  The  words  of  Gamut  were,  as  has 
been  seen,  in  his  native  tongue;  and  to  Duncan  they 
seemed  pregnant  with  some  hidden  meaning,  though 
nothing  present  assisted  him  in  discovering  the  object 
of  their  allusion.  A  speedy  end  was,  however,  put  to 
every  conjecture  on  the  subject,  by  the  manner  of  the 
chief,  who  advanced  to  the  bedside  of  the  invalid,  and 
beckoned  away  the  whole  group  of  female  attendants 
that  had  clustered  there  to  witness  the  skill  of  the 
stranger.  He  was  implicitly,  though  reluctantly,  obeyed; 
and  when  the  low  echo  which  rang  along  the  hollow  nat- 

378 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  379 

ural  gallery  from  the  distant  closing  door  had  ceased, 
pointing  towards  his  insensible  daughter,  he  said,— 

"  Now  let  my  brother  show  his  power." 

Thus  unequivocally  called  on  to  exercise  the  functions 
of  his  assumed  character,  Heyward  was  apprehensive 
that  the  smallest  delay  might  prove  dangerous.  En 
deavoring  then  to  collect  his  ideas,  he  prepared  to  per 
form  that  species  of  incantation,  and  those  uncouth  rites, 
under  which  the  Indian  conjurers  are  accustomed  to  con 
ceal  their  ignorance  and  impotency.  It  is  more  than  prob 
able  that,  in  the  disordered  state  of  his  thoughts,  he 
would  soon  have  fallen  into  some  suspicious,  if  not  fatal" 
error,  had  not  his  incipient  attempts  been  interrupted  by 
a  fierce  growl  from  the  quadruped.  Three  several  times 
did  he  renew  his  efforts  to  proceed,  and  as  often  was 
he  met  by  the  same  unaccountable  opposition,  each  in 
terruption  seeming  more  savage  and  threatening  than  the 
preceding. 

"The  cunning  ones  are  jealous,"  said  the  Huron;  "I 
go.  Brother,  the  woman  is  the  wife  of  one  of  my  bravest 
young  men;  deal  justly  by  her.  Peace!  "  he  added,  beck 
oning  to  the  discontented  beast  to  be  quiet;  "  I  go." 

The  chief  was  as  good  as  his  word,  and  Duncan  now 
found  himself  alone  in  that  wild  and  desolate  abode,  with 
the  helpless  invalid,  and  the  fierce  and  dangerous  brute. 
The  latter  listened  to  the  movements  of  the  Indian  with 
that  air  of  sagacity  that  a  bear  is  known  to  possess,  until 
another  echo  announced  that  he  had  also  left  the  cavern, 
when  it  turned  and  came  waddling  up  to  Duncan,  before 
whom  it  seated  itself,  in  its  natural  attitude,  erect  like 
a  man.  The  youth  looked  anxiously  about  him  for  some 
weapon,  with  which  he  might  make  a  resistance  against 
the  attack  he  now  seriously  expected. 


380  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

It  seemed,  however,  as  if  the  humor  of  the  animal  had 
suddenly  changed.  Instead  of  continuing  its  discon 
tented  growls,  or  manifesting  any  further  signs  of  anger, 
the  whole  of  its  shaggy  body  shook  violently,  as  if  agi 
tated  by  some  strange  internal  convulsion.  The  huge  and 
unwieldy  talons  pawed  stupidly  about  the  grinning  muz 
zle,  and  while  Heyward  kept  his  eyes  riveted  on  its 
movements  with  jealous  watchfulness,  the  grim  head  fell 
on  one  side,  and  in  its  place  appeared  the  honest,  sturdy 
countenance  of  the  scout,  who  was  indulging  from  the 
bottom  of  his  soul,  in  his  own  peculiar  expression  of 
merriment. 

"  Hist !  "  said  the  wary  woodsman,  interrupting  Hey- 
ward's  exclamation  of  surprise ;  "  the  varlets  are  about 
the  place,  and  any  sounds  that  are  not  natural  to  witch 
craft  would  bring  them  back  upon  us  in  a  body." 

"  Tell  me  the  meaning  of  this  masquerade ;  and  why 
you  have  attempted  so  desperate  an  adventure." 

"  Ah !  reason  and  calculation  are  often  outdone  by  ac 
cident,"  returned  the  scout.  "  But  as  a  story  should 
always  commence  at  the  beginning,  I  will  tell  you  the 
whole  in  order.  After  we  parted  I  placed  the  com 
mandant  and  the  Sagamore  in  an  old  beaver  lodge,  where 
they  are  safer  from  the  Hurons  than  they  would  be  in 
the  garrison  of  Edward,  for  your  high  northwest  In 
dians,  not  having  as  yet  got  the  traders  among  them,  con 
tinue  to  venerate  the  beaver.  After  which  Uncas  and.  I 
pushed  for  the  other  encampment,  as  was  agreed;  have 
you  seen  the  lad  ?  " 

"  To  my  great  grief !  he  is  captive,  and  condemned  to 
die  at  the  rising  of  the  sun." 

"  I  had  misgivings  that  such  would  be  his  fate,"  re 
sumed  the  scout,  in  a  less  confident  and  joyous  tone.  But 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  381 

soon  regaining  his  naturally  firm  voice,  he  continued: 
"  His  bad  fortune  is  the  true  reason  of  my  being  here, 
for  it  would  never  do  to  abandon  such  a  boy  to  the 
Hurons.  A  rare  time  the  knaves  would  have  of  it,  could 
they  tie  The  Bounding  Elk  and  The  Long  Carabine,  as 
they  call  me,  to  the  same  stake !  Though  why  they  have 
given  me  such  a  name  I  never  knew,  there  being  as  lit 
tle  likeness  between  the  gifts  of  '  Killdeer/  and  the  per 
formance  of  one  of  your  real  Canada  carabines,  as  there 
is  between  the  natur'  of  a  pipe-stone  and  a  flint !  " 

"  Keep  to  your  tale,"  said  the  impatient  Heyward ; 
"  we  know  not  at  what  moment  the  Hurons  may 
return." 

"  No  fear  of  them.  A  conjurer  must  have  his  time, 
like  a  straggling  priest  in  the  settlements.  We  are  as 
safe  from  interruption  as  a  missionary  would  be  at  the 
beginning  of  a  two  hours'  discourse.  Well,  Uncas  and 
I  fell  in  with  a  return  party  of  the  varlets;  the  lad  was 
much  too  forward  for  a  scout;  nay,  for  that  matter, 
being  of  hot  blood,  he  was  not  so  much  to  blame;  and, 
after  all,  one  of  the  Hurons  proved  a  coward,  and  in 
fleeing  led  him  into  an  ambushment." 

"  And  dearly  has  he  paid  for  the  weakness !  " 

The  scout  significantly  passed  his  hand  across  his  own 
throat,  and  nodded,  as  if  he  said,  "  I  comprehend  your 
meaning."  After  which  he  continued,  in  a  more  audible 
though  scarcely  more  intelligible  language, — 

"  After  the  loss  of  the  boy  I  turned  upon  the  Hurons, 
as  you  may  judge.  There  have  been  skrimmages  atween 
one  or  two  of  their  outlyers  and  myself;  but  that  is 
neither  here  nor  there.  So,  after  I  had  shot  the  imps, 
I  got  in  pretty  nigh  to  the  lodges  without  further  com 
motion.  Then  what  should  luck  do  in  my  favor,  but  lead 


382  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

me  to  the  very  spot  where  one  of  the  most  famous  con 
jurers  of  the  tribe  was  dressing  himself,  as  I  well  knew, 
for  some  great  battle  with  Satan — though  why  should  I 
call  that  luck,  which  it  now  seems  was  an  especial  or 
dering  of  Providence!  So  a  judgmatical  rap  over  the 
head  stiffened  the  lying  impostor  for  a  time,  and  leav 
ing  him  a  bit  of  walnut  for  his  supper,  to  prevent  an 
uproar,  and  stringing  him  up  atween  two  saplings,  I 
made  free  with  his  finery,  and  took  the  part  of  the  bear 
on  myself,  in  order  that  the  operations  might  pro 
ceed." 

"  And  admirably  did  you  enact  the  character ;  the  ani 
mal  itself  might  have  been  shamed  by  the  represen 
tation." 

"  Lord,  Major,"  returned  the  flattered  woodsman,  "  I 
should  be  but  a  poor  scholar  for  one  who  has  studied  so 
long  in  the  wilderness,  did  I  not  know  how  to  set  forth 
the  movements  and  natur'  of  such  a  beast.  Had  it  been 
now  a  catamount,  or  even  a  full-sized  panther,  I  would 
have  embellished  a  performance  for  you  worth  regard 
ing.  But  it  is  no  such  marvelous  feat  to  exhibit  the  feats 
of  so  dull  a  beast;  though,  for  that  matter  too,  a  bear 
may  be  overacted.  Yes,  yes;  it  is  not  every  imitator 
that  knows  natur'  may  be  outdone  easier  than  she  is 
equaled.  But  all  our  work  is  yet  before  us:  where  is 
the  gentle  one  ?  " 

"  Heaven  knows ;  I  have  examined  every  lodge  in  the 
village,  without  discovering  the  slightest  trace  of  her 
presence  in  the  tribe." 

"  You  heard  what  the  singer  said,  as  he  left  us, — 
'  She  is  at  hand,  and  expects  you  '?  " 

"  I  have  been  compelled  to  believe  he  alluded  to  this 
unhappy  woman." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  383 

"  The  simpleton  was  frightened,  and  blundered 
through  his  message ;  but  he  had  a  deeper  meaning.  Here 
are  walls  enough  to  separate  the  whole  settlement.  A 
bear  ought  to  climb;  therefore  will  I  take  a  look  above 
them.  There  may  be  honey-pots  hid  in  these  rocks,  and 
I  am  a  beast,  you  know,  that  has  a  hankering  for  the 
sweets." 

The  scout  looked  behind  him,  laughing  at  his  own 
conceit,  while  he  clambered  up  the  partition,  imitating, 
as  he  went,  the  clumsy  motions  of  the  beast  he  repre 
sented  ;  but  the  instant  the  summit  was  gained  he  made 
a  gesture  for  silence,  and  slid  down  with  the  utmost 
precipitation. 

"  She  is  here,"  he  whispered,  "  and  by  that  door  you 
will  find  her.  I  would  have  spoken  a  word  of  comfort 
to  the  afflicted  soul;  but  the  sight  of  such  a  monster 
might  upset  her  reason.  Though  for  that  matter,  Major, 
you  are  none  of  the  most  inviting  yourself  in  your 
paint." 

Duncan,  who  had  already  sprung  eagerly  forward, 
drew  instantly  back  on  hearing  these  discouraging  words. 

"  Am  I,  then,  so  very  revolting  ? "  he  demanded,  with 
an  air  of  chagrin. 

"  You  might  not  startle  a  wolf,  or  turn  the  Royal 
Americans  from  a  charge ;  but  I  have  seen  the  time  when 
you  had  a  better- favored  look;  your  streaked  counte 
nances  are  not  ill-judged  of  by  the  squaws,  but  young 
women  of  white  blood  give  the  preference  to  their  own 
color.  See,"  he  added,  pointing  to  a  place  where  the 
water  trickled  from  a  rock,  forming  a  little  crystal  spring 
before  it  found  an  issue  through  the  adjacent  crevices; 
"  you  may  easily  get  rid  of  the  Sagamore's  daub,  and 
when  you  come  back  I  will  try  my  hand  at  a  new  embel- 


384  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

lishment.  It's  as  common  for  a  conjurer  to  alter  his 
paint  as  for  a  buck  in  the  settlements  to  change  his 
finery." 

The  deliberate  woodsman  had  little  occasion  to  hunt 
for  arguments  to  enforce  his  advice.  He  was  yet  speak 
ing  when  Duncan  availed  himself  of  the  water.  In  a 
moment  every  frightful  or  offensive  mark  was  oblit 
erated,  and  the  youth  appeared  again  in  the  lineaments 
with  which  he  had  been  gifted  by  nature.  Thus  pre 
pared  for  an  interview  with  his  mistress,  he  took  a  hasty 
leave  of  his  companion,  and  disappeared  through  the  indi 
cated  passage.  The  scout  witnessed  his  departure  with 
complacency,  nodding  his  head  after  him,  and  muttering 
his  good  wishes ;  after  which  he  very  coolly  set  about  an 
examination  of  the  state  of  the  larder,  among  the  Hu- 
rons — the  cavern,  among  other  purposes,  being  used  as 
a  receptacle  for  the  fruits  of  their  hunts. 

Duncan  had  no  other  guide  than  a  distant  glimmering 
light,  which  served,  however,  the  office  of  a  polar  star 
to  the  lover.  By  its  aid  he  was  enabled  to  enter  the 
haven  of  his  hopes,  which  was  merely  another  apartment 
of  the  cavern,  that  had  been  solely  appropriated  to  the 
safe-keeping  of  so  important  a  prisoner  as  a  daughter 
of  the  commandant  of  William  Henry.  It  was  profusely 
strewed  with  the  plunder  of  that  unlucky  fortress.  In 
the  midst  of  this  confusion  he  found  her  he  sought,  pale, 
anxious,  and  terrified,  but  lovely.  David  had  prepared 
her  for  such  a  visit. 

"  Duncan !  "  she  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  that  seemed  to 
tremble  at  the  sounds  created  by  itself. 

"  Alice,"  he  answered,  leaping  carelessly  among  trunks, 
boxes,  arms,  and  furniture,  until  he  stood  at  her  side. 

"  I  knew  that  you  would  never  desert  me,"  she  said, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  385 

looking  up  with  a  momentary  glow  on  her  otherwise 
dejected  countenance.  "  But  you  are  alone!  grateful  as 
it  is  to  be  thus  remembered,  I  could  wish  to  think  you 
are  not  entirely  alone." 

Duncan  observing  that  she  trembled  in  a  manner  which 
betrayed  her  inability  to  stand,  gently  induced  her  to  be 
seated,  while  he  recounted  those  leading  incidents  which 
it  has  been  our  task  to  record.  Alice  listened  with 
breathless  interest;  and  though  the  young  man  touched 
lightly  on  the  sorrows  of  the  stricken  father,  taking  care, 
however,  not  to  wound  the  self-love  of  his  auditor,  the 
tears  ran  as  freely  down  the  cheeks  of  the  daughter  as 
though  she  had  never  wept  before.  The  soothing  ten 
derness  of  Duncan,  however,  soon  quieted  the  first  burst 
of  her  emotions,  and  she  then  heard  him  to  the  close  with 
undivided  attention,  if  not  with  composure. 

"  And  now,  Alice,"  he  added,  "  you  will  see  how  much 
is  still  expected  of  you.  By  the  assistance  of  our  expe 
rienced  and  invaluable  friend,  the  scout,  we  may  find 
our  way  from  this  savage  people,  but  you  will  have  to 
exert  your  utmost  fortitude.  Remember  that  you  fly  to 
the  arms  of  your  venerable  parent,  and  how  much  his 
happiness,  as  well  as  your  own,  depends  on  those  exer 
tions." 

"  Can  I  do  otherwise  for  a  father  who  has  done  so 
much  for  me  ?  " 

"  And  for  me  too,"  continued  the  youth,  gently  press 
ing  the  hand  he  held  in  both  his  own. 

The  look  of  innocence  and  surprise  which  he  received 
in  return  convinced  Duncan  of  the  necessity  of  being 
more  explicit. 

"  This  is  neither  the  place  nor  the  occasion  to  detain 
you  with  selfish  wishes,"  he  added;  "but  what  heart 


386  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

loaded  like  mine  would  not  wish  to  cast  its  burden? 
They  say  misery  is  the  closest  of  all  ties;  our  common 
suffering  in  your  behalf  left  but  little  to  be  explained 
between  your  father  and  myself." 

"  And  dearest  Cora,  Duncan ;  surely  Cora  was  not 
forgotten  ?  " 

"  Not  forgotten !  no ;  regretted,  as  woman  was  seldom 
mourned  before.  Your  venerable  father  knew  no  dif 
ference  between  his  children;  but  I — Alice,  you  will  not 
be  offended  when  I  say,  that  to  me  her  worth  was  in  a 
degree  obscured — ' 

"  Then  you  knew  not  the  merit  of  my  sister,"  said 
Alice,  withdrawing  her  hand ;  "  of  you  she  ever  speaks 
as  of  one  who  is  her  nearest  friend." 

"  I  would  gladly  believe  her  such,"  returned  Duncan, 
hastily ;  "  I  could  wish  her  to  be  even  more ;  but  with 
you,  Alice,  I  have  the  permission  of  your  father  to  aspire 
to  a  still  nearer  and  dearer  tie." 

Alice  trembled  violently,  and  there  was  an  instant  dur 
ing  which  she  bent  her  face  aside,  yielding  to  the  emo 
tions  common  to  her  sex ;  but  they  quickly  passed  away, 
leaving  her  mistress  of  her  deportment,  if  not  of  her 
affections. 

"  Heyward,"  she  said,  looking  him  full  in  the  face 
with  a  touching  expression  of  innocence  and  dependency, 
"  give  me  the  sacred  presence  and  the  holy  sanction  of 
that  parent  before  you  urge  me  further." 

"  Though  more  I  should  not,  less  I  could  not  say,"  the 
youth  was  about  to  answer,  when  he  was  interrupted  by 
a  light  tap  on  his  shoulder.  Starting  to  his  feet,  he 
turned,  and,  confronting  the  intruder,  his  looks  fell  on 
the  dark  form  and  malignant  visage  of  Magua.  The  deep 
guttural  laugh  of  the  savage  sounded,  at  such  a  moment, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  387 

to  Duncan  like  the  hellish  taunt  of  a  demon.  Had  he 
pursued  the  sudden  and  fierce  impulse  of  the  instant, 
he  would  have  cast  himself  on  the  Huron,  and  committed 
their  fortunes  to  the  issue  of  a  deadly  struggle.  But, 
without  arms  of  any  description,  ignorant  of  what  suc 
cor  his  subtle  enemy  could  command,  and  charged  with 
the  safety  of  one  who  was  just  then  dearer  than  ever 
to  his  heart,  he  no  sooner  entertained  than  he  abandoned 
the  desperate  intention. 

"  What  is  your  purpose  ?  "  said  Alice,  meekly  folding 
her  arms  on  her  bosom,  and  struggling  to  conceal  an 
agony  of  apprehension  in  behalf  of  Heyward,  in  the  usual 
cold  and  distant  manner  with  which  she  received  the  vis 
its  of  her  captor. 

The  exulting  Indian  had  resumed  his  austere  counte 
nance,  though  he  drew  warily  back  before  the  menacing 
glance  of  the  young  man's  fiery  eye.  He  regarded  both 
his  captives  for  a  moment  with  a  steady  look,  and  then 
stepping  aside,  he  dropped  a  log  of  wood  across  a  door 
different  from  that  by  which  Duncan  had  entered.  The 
latter  now  comprehended  the  manner  of  his  surprise,  and 
believing  himself  irretrievably  lost,  he  drew  Alice  to  his 
bosom,  and  stood  prepared  to  meet  a  fate  which  he 
hardly  regretted,  since  it  was  to  be  suffered  in  such  com 
pany.  But  Magua  meditated  no  immediate  violence. 
His  first  measures  were  very  evidently  taken  to  secure 
his  new  captive ;  nor  did  he  even  bestow  a  second  glance 
at  the  motionless  forms  in  the  center  of  the  cavern,  until 
he  had  completely  cut  off  every  hope  of  retreat  through 
the  private  outlet  he  had  himself  used.  He  was  watched 
in  all  his  movements  by  Heyward,  who,  however,  re 
mained  firm,  still  folding  the  fragile  form  of  Alice  to  his 
heart,  at  once  too  proud  and  too  hopeless  to  ask  favor  of 


388  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

an  enemy  so  often  foiled.  When  Magua  had  effected 
his  object  he  approached  his  prisoners,  and  said  in 
English, — 

"  The  pale-faces  trap  the  cunning  beavers ;  but  the 
redskins  know  how  to  take  the  Yengeese." 

"  Huron,  do  your  worst !  "  exclaimed  the  excited  Hey- 
ward,  forgetful  that  a  double  stake  was  involved  in  his 
life ;  "  you  and  your  vengeance  are  alike  despised." 

"  Will  the  white  man  speak  these  words  at  the  stake  ?  " 
asked  Magua;  manifesting,  at  the  same  time,  how  little 
faith  he  had  in  the  other's  resolution  by  the  sneer  that 
accompanied  his  words. 

"  Here ;  singly  to  your  face,  or  in  the  presence  of  your 
nation." 

"  Le  Renard  Subtil  is  a  great  chief !  "  returned  the  In 
dian  ;  "  he  will  go  and  bring  his  young  men  to  see  how 
bravely  a  pale-face  can  laugh  at  the  tortures." 

He  turned  away  while  speaking,  and  was  about  to 
leave  the  place  through  the  avenue  by  which  Duncan 
had  approached,  when  a  growl  caught  his  ear,  and  caused 
him  to  hesitate.  The  figure  of  the  bear  appeared  in  the 
door,  where  it  sat,  rolling  from  side  to  side  in  its  cus 
tomary  restlessness.  Magua,  like  the  father  of  the  sick 
woman,  eyed  it  keenly  for  a  moment,  as  if  to  ascertain 
its  character.  -He  was  far  above  the  more  vulgar  super 
stitions  of  his  tribe,  and  so  soon  as  he  recognized  the 
well-known  attire  of  the  conjurer,  he  prepared  to  pass 
it  in  cool  contempt.  But  a  louder  and  more  threaten 
ing  growl  caused  him  again  to  pause.  Then  he  seemed 
as  if  suddenly  resolved  to  trifle  no  longer,  and  moved 
resolutely  forward.  The  mimic  animal,  which  had  ad 
vanced  a  little,  retired  slowly  in  his  front,  until  it  arrived 
again  at  the  pass,  when  rearing  on  its  hinder  legs  it 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  389 

beat  the  air  with  its  paws,  in  the  manner  practised  by 
its  brutal  prototype. 

"  Fool !  "  exclaimed  the  chief,  in  Huron,  "  go  play  with 
the  children  and  squaws ;  leave  men  to  their  wisdom." 

He  once  more  endeavored  to  pass  the  supposed  em 
piric,  scorning  even  the  parade  of  threatening  to  use  the 
knife,  or  tomahawk,  that  was  pendent  from  his  belt. 
Suddenly  the  beast  extended  its  arms,  or  rather  legs, 
and  inclosed  him  in  a  grasp  that  might  have  vied  with 
the  far-famed  power  of  the  "  bear's  hug  "  itself.  Hey- 
ward  had  watched  the  whole  procedure,  on  the  part  of 
Hawkeye,  with  breathless  interest.  At  first  he  relin 
quished  his  hold  of  Alice ;  then  he  caught  up  a  thong  of 
buckskin,  which  had  been  used  around  some  bundle,  and 
when  he  beheld  his  enemy  with  his  two  arms  pinned  to 
his  side  by  the  iron  muscles  of  the  scout,  he  rushed  upon 
him,  and  effectually  secured  them  there.  Arms,  legs,  and 
feet  were  encircled  in  twenty  folds  of  the  thong,  in 
less  time  than  we  have  taken  to  record  the  circumstance. 
When  the  formidable  Huron  was  completely  pinioned, 
the  scout  released  his  hold,  and  Duncan  laid  his  enemy 
on  his  back,  utterly  helpless. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  this  sudden  and  extraordi 
nary  operation,  Magua,  though  he  had  struggled  vio 
lently,  until  assured  he  was  in  the  hands  of  one  whose 
nerves  were  far  better  strung  than  his  own,  had  not  ut 
tered  the  slightest  exclamation.  But  when  Hawkeye, 
by  way  of  making  a  summary  explanation  of  his  con 
duct,  removed  the  shaggy  jaws  of  the  beast,  and  exposed 
his  own  rugged  and  earnest  countenance  to  the  gaze  of 
the  Huron,  the  philosophy  of  the  latter  was  so  far  mas 
tered  as  to  permit  him  to  utter  the  never- failing, — 

"  Hugh !  " 


390  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Aye !  you've  found  your  tongue,"  said  his  undis 
turbed  conqueror ;  "  now,  in  order  that  you  shall  not 
use  it  to  our  ruin,  I  must  make  free  to  stop  your  mouth." 

As  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  the  scout  immediately 
set  about  effecting  so  necessary  a  precaution;  and  when 
he  had  gagged  the  Indian,  his  enemy  might  safely  have 
been  considered  as  hors  de  combat. 

"  By  what  place  did  the  imp  enter?  "  asked  the  indus 
trious  scout,  when  his  work  was  ended.  "  Not  a  soul 
has  passed  my  way  since  you  left  me." 

Duncan  pointed  out  the  door  by  which  Magua  had 
come,  and  which  now  presented  too  many  obstacles  to 
a  quick  retreat. 

"  Bring  on  the  gentle  one,  then/'  continued  his  friend ; 
"  we  must  make  a  push  for  the  woods  by  the  other 
outlet." 

"  Tis  impossible !  "  said  Duncan ;  "  fear  has  overcome 
her,  and  she  is  helpless.  Alice !  my  sweet,  my  own  Alice, 
arouse  yourself;  now  is  the  moment  to  fly.  'Tis  in  vain! 
she  hears,  but  is  unable  to  follow.  Go,  noble  and  worthy 
friend;  save  yourself,  and  leave  me  to  my  fate!  " 

"  Every  trail  has  its  end,  and  every  calamity  brings 
its  lesson !  "  returned  the  scout.  "  There,  wrap  her  in 
them  Indian  cloths.  Conceal  all  of  her  little  form.  Nay, 
that  foot  has  no  fellow  in  the  wilderness;  it  will  betray 
her.  All,  every  part.  Now  take  her  in  your  arms,  and 
follow.  Leave  the  rest  to  me." 

Duncan,  as  may  be  gathered  from  the  words  of  his 
companion,  was  eagerly  obeying;  and  as  the  other  fin 
ished  speaking,  he  took  the  light  person  of  Alice  in  his 
arms,  and  followed  on  the  footsteps  of  the  scout.  They 
found  the  sick  woman  as  they  had  left  her,  still  alone, 
and  passed  swiftly  on,  by  the  natural  gallery,  to  the  place 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  391 

of  entrance.  As  they  approached  the  little  door  of  bark, 
a  murmur  of  voices  without  announced  that  the  friends 
and  relatives  of  the  invalid  were  gathered  about  the 
place,  patiently  awaiting  a  summons  to  re-enter. 

"  If  I  open  my  lips  to  speak,"  Hawkeye  whispered, 
"  my  English,  which  is  the  genuine  tongue  of  a  white- 
skin,  will  tell  the  varlets  that  an  enemy  is  among  them. 
You  must  give- 'em  your  jargon,  Major;  and  say  that  we 
have  shut  the  evil  spirit  in  the  cave,  and  are  taking  the 
woman  to  the  woods  in  order  to  find  strengthening  roots. 
Practise  all  your  cunning,  for  it  is  a  lawful  undertaking." 

The  door  opened  a  little,  as  if  one  without  was  listen 
ing  to  the  proceedings  within,  and  compelled  the  scout 
to  cease  his  directions.  A  fierce  growl  repelled  the  eaves 
dropper,  and  then  the  scout  boldly  threw  open  the  cover 
ing  of  bark,  and  left  the  place,  enacting  the  character  of 
the  bear  as  he  proceeded.  Duncan  kept  close  at  his  heels, 
and  soon  found  himself  in  the  center  of  a  cluster  of 
twenty  anxious  relatives  and  friends. 

The  crowd  fell  back  a  little,  and  permitted  the  father, 
and  one  who  appeared  to  be  the  husband  of  the  woman, 
to  approach. 

"Has  my  brother  driven  away  the  evil  spirit?"  de 
manded  the  former.  "  What  has  he  in  his  arms  ?  " 

"  Thy  child,"  returned  Duncan,  gravely ;  "  the  disease 
has  gone  out  of  her;  it  is  shut  up  in  the  rocks.  I  take 
the  woman  to  a  distance,  where  I  will  strengthen  her 
against  any  further  attacks.  She  shall  be  in  the  wigwam 
of  the  young  man  when  the  sun  comes  again." 

When  the  father  had  translated  the  meaning  of  the 
stranger's  words  into  the  Huron  language,  a  suppressed 
murmur  announced  the  satisfaction  with  which  the  in 
telligence  was  received.  The  chief  himself  waved  his 


392  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

hand  for  Duncan  to  proceed,  saying  aloud,  in  a  firm 
voice,  and  with  a  lofty  manner, — 

"  Go ;  I  am  a  man,  and  I  will  enter  the  rock  and  fight 
the  wicked  one." 

Heyward  had  gladly  obeyed,  and  was  already  past  the 
little  group,  when  these  startling  words  arrested  him. 

"  Is  my  brother  mad  ?  "  he  exclaimed ;  "  is  he  cruel ! 
He  will  meet  the  disease,  and  it  will  enter  him;  or  he 
will  drive  out  the  disease,  and  it  will  chase  his  daughter 
into  the  woods.  No;  let  my  children  wait  without,  and 
if  the  spirit  appears  beat  him  down  with  clubs.  He  is 
cunning,  and  will  bury  himself  in  the  mountain,  when 
he  sees  how  many  are  ready  to  fight  him." 

This  singular  warning  had  the  desired  effect.  Instead 
of  entering  the  cavern,  the  father  and  husband  drew 
their  tomahawks,  and  posted  themselves  in  readiness  to 
deal  their  vengeance  on  the  imaginary  tormentor  of  their 
sick  relative,  while  the  women  and  children  broke 
branches  from  the  bushes,  or  seized  fragments  of  the 
rock,  with  a  similar  intention.  At  this  favorable  mo 
ment  the  counterfeit  conjurers  disappeared. 

Hawkeye,  at  the  same  time  that  he  had  presumed  so 
far  on  the  nature  of  the  Indian  superstitions,  was  not 
ignorant  that  they  were  rather  tolerated  than  relied  on 
by  the  wisest  of  the  chiefs.  He  well  knew  the  value  of 
time  in  the  present  emergency.  Whatever  might  be  the 
extent  of  the  self-delusion  of  his  enemies,  and  however 
it  had  tended  to  assist  his  schemes,  the  slightest  cause 
of  suspicion,  acting  on  the  subtle  nature  of  an  Indian, 
would  be  likely  to  prove  fatal.  Taking  the  path,  there 
fore,  that  was  most  likely  to  avoid  observation,  he  rather 
skirted  than  entered  the  village.  The  warriors  were  still 
to  be  seen  in  the  distance,  by  the  fading  light  of  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  393 

fires,  stalking  from  lodge  to  lodge.  But  the  children  had 
abandoned  their  sports  for  their  beds  of  skins,  and  the 
quiet  of  night  was  already  beginning  to  prevail  over 
the  turbulence  and  excitement  of  so  busy  and  important 
an  evening. 

Alice  revived  under  the  renovating  influence  of  the  open 
air,  and  as  her  physical  rather  than  her  mental  powers 
had  been  the  subject  of  weakness,  she  stood  in  no  need 
of  any  explanation  of  that  which  had  occurred. 

"  Now  let  me  make  an  effort  to  walk,"  she  said,  when 
they  had  entered  the  forest,  blushing,  though  unseen,  that 
she  had  not  been  sooner  able  to  quit  the  arms  of  Dun 
can  ;  "  I  am  indeed  restored." 

"  Nay,  Alice,  you  are  yet  too  weak." 

The  maiden  struggled  gently  to  release  herself,  and 
Heyward  was  compelled  to  part  with  his  precious  bur 
den.  The  representative  of  the  bear  had  certainly  been 
an  entire  stranger  to  the  delicious  emotions  of  the  lover 
while  his  arms  encircled  his  mistress;  and  he  was,  per 
haps,  a  stranger  also  to  the  nature  of  that  feeling  of 
ingenuous  shame  that  oppressed  the  trembling  Alice. 
But  when  he  found  himself  at  a  suitable  distance  from 
the  lodges  he  made  a  halt,  and  spoke  on  a  subject  of 
which  he  was  thoroughly  the  master. 

"  This  path  will  lead  you  to  the  brook,"  he  said ;  "  fol 
low  its  northern  bank  until  you  come  to  a  fall ;  and  mount 
the  hill  on  your  right,  and  you  will  see  the  fires  of  the 
other  people.  There  you  must  go  and  demand  protec 
tion  ;  if  they  are  true  Delawares,  you  will  be  safe.  A 
distant  flight  with  that  gentle  one,  just  now,  is  impossi 
ble.  The  Hurons  would  follow  up  our  trail,  and  master 
our  scalps,  before  we  had  got  a  dozen  miles.  Go,  and 
Providence  be  with  you." 


394  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  And  you ! "  demanded  Heyward,  in  surprise ; 
"  surely  we  part  not  here  ?  " 

"  The  Hurons  hold  the  pride  of  the  Delawares ;  the  last 
of  the  high  blood  of  the  Mohicans  is  in  their  power," 
returned  the  scout ;  "  I  go  to  see  what  can  be  done  in 
his  favor.  Had  they  mastered  your  scalp,  Major,  a 
knave  should  have  fallen  for  every  hair  it  held,  as  I  prom 
ised  ;  but  if  the  young  Sagamore  is  to  be  led  to  the  stake, 
the  Indians  shall  see  also  how  a  man  without  a  cross 
can  die." 

Not  in  the  least  offended  with  the  decided  preference 
that  the  sturdy  woodsman  gave  to  one  who  might,  in 
some  degree,  be  called  the  child  of  his  adoption,  Duncan 
still  continued  to  urge  such  reasons  against  so  desperate 
an  effort  as  presented  themselves.  He  was  aided  by 
Alice,  who  mingled  her  entreaties  with  those  of  Heyward 
that  he  would  abandon  a  resolution  that  promised  so 
much  danger,  with  so  little  hope  of  success.  Their  elo 
quence  and  ingenuity  were  expended  in  vain.  The  scout 
heard  them  attentively,  but  impatiently,  and  finally  closed 
the  discussion,  by  answering,  in  a  tone  that  instantly 
silenced  Alice,  while  it  told  Heyward  how  fruitless  any 
further  remonstrances  would  be, — 

"  I  have  heard,"  he  said,  "  that  there  is  a  feeling  in 
youth  which  binds  man  to  woman  closer  than  the  father 
is  tied  to  the  son.  It  may  be  so.  I  have  seldom  been 
where  women  of  my  color  dwell ;  but  such  may  be  the 
gifts  of  nature  in  the  settlements.  You  have  risked  life, 
and  all  that  is  dear  to  you,  to  bring  off  this  gentle  one, 
and  I  suppose  that  some  such  disposition  is  at  the  bottom 
of  it  all.  As  for  me,  I  taught  the  lad  the  real  character 
of  a  rifle ;  and  well  has  he  paid  me  for  it.  I  have  fou't 
at  his  side  in  many  a  bloody  skrimmage;  and  so  long  as 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  395 

I  could  hear  the  crack  of  his  piece  in  one  ear,  and  that 
of  the  Sagamore  in  the  other,  I  knew  no  enemy  was  on 
my  back.  Winters  and  summers,  nights  and  days,  have 
we  roved  the  wilderness  in  company,  eating  of  the  same 
dish,  one  sleeping  while  the  other  watched;  and  afore  it 
shall  be  said  that  Uncas  was  taken  to  the  torment,  and 
I  at  hand—  There  is  but  a  single  ruler  of  us  all,  what 
ever  may  be  the  color  of  the  skin;  and  Him  I  call  to 
witness,  that  before  the  Mohican  boy  shall  perish  for  the 
want  of  a  friend,  good  faith  shall  depart  the  'arth,  and 
'  Killdeer '  become  as  harmless  as  the  tooting  we'pon 
of  the  singer !  " 

Duncan  released  his  hold  on  the  arm  of  the  scout,  who 
turned,  and  steadily  retraced  his  steps  towards  the  lodges. 
After  pausing  a  moment  to  gaze  at  his  retiring  form, 
the  successful  and  yet  sorrowful  Hey  ward,  and  Alice, 
took  their  way  together  towards  the  distant  village  of 
the  Delawares. 


CHAPTER 
XXVI. 


"  Bot. — Let  me  play  the  lion- too." 

Midsummer  Night's  Dream. 

XTOTWITHSTANDING  the  high  resolution  of 
l\l  Hawkeye,  he  fully  comprehended  all  the  difficul 
ties  and  dangers  he  was  about  to  incur.  In  his  return 
to  the  camp,  his  acute  and  practised  intellects  were  in 
tently  engaged  in  devising  means  to  counteract  a  watch 
fulness  and  suspicion  on  the  part  of  his  enemies,  that 
he  knew  were,  in  no  degree,  inferior  to  his  own.  Noth 
ing  but  the  color  of  his  skin  had  saved  the  lives  of  Magua 
and  the  conjurer,  who  would  have  been  the  first  victims 
sacrificed  to  his  own  security,  had  not  the  scout  believed 
such  an  act,  however  congenial  it  might  be  to  the  nature 
of  an  Indian,  utterly  unworthy  of  one  who  boasted  a 
descent  from  men  that  knew  no  cross  of  blood.  Accord 
ingly,  he  trusted  to  the  withes  and  ligaments  with  which 
he  had  bound  his  captives,  and  pursued  his  way  directly 
towards  the  center  of  the  lodges. 

As  he  approached  the  buildings,  his  steps  became  more 
deliberate,  and  his  vigilant  eye  suffered  no  sign,  whether 
friendly  or  hostile,  to  escape  him.  A  neglected  hut  was 

396 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  397 

a  little  in  advance  of  the  others,  and  appeared  as  if  it 
had  been  deserted  when  half-completed — most  probably 
on  account  of  failing  in  some  of  the  more  important 
requisites;  such  as  food  or  water.  A  faint  light  glim 
mered  through  its  cracks,  however,  and  announced  that, 
notwithstanding  its  imperfect  structure,  it  was  not  with 
out  a  tenant.  Thither,  then,  the  scout  proceeded,  like  a 
prudent  general,  who  was  about  to  feel  the  advanced  posi 
tions  of  his  enemy,  before  he  hazarded  the  main  attack. 

Throwing  himself  into  a  suitable  posture  for  the  beast 
he  represented,  Hawkeye  crawled  to  a  little  opening, 
where  he  might  command  a  view  of  the  interior.  It 
proved  to  be  the  abiding-place  of  David  Gamut.  Hither 
the  faithful  singing-master  had  now  brought  himself,  to 
gether  with  all  his  sorrows,  his  apprehensions,  and  his 
meek  dependence  on  the  protection  of  Providence.  At 
the  precise  moment  when  his  ungainly  person  came  under 
the  observation  of  the  scout,  in  the  manner  just  men 
tioned,  the  woodsman,  himself,  though  in  his  assumed 
character,  wa:,  the  subject  of  the  solitary  being's  pro- 
foundest  reflections. 

However  implicit  the  faith  of  David  was  in  the  per 
formance  of  ancient  miracles,  he  eschewed  the  belief  of 
any  direct  supernatural  agency  in  the  management  of 
modern  morality.  In  other  words,  while  he  had  im 
plicit  faith  in  the  ability  of  Balaam's  ass  to  speak,  he 
was  somewhat  skeptical  on  the  subject  of  a  bear's  sing 
ing;  and  yet  he  had  been  assured  of  the  latter,  on  the 
testimony  of  his  own  exquisite  organs.  There  was  some 
thing  in  his  air  and  manner  that  betrayed  to  the  scout 
the  utter  confusion  of  the  state  of  his  mind.  He  was 
seated  on  a  pile  of  brush,  a  few  twigs  from  which  occa 
sionally  fed  his  low  fire,  with  his  head  leaning  on  his 


398  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

arm,  in  a  posture  of  melancholy  musing.  The  costume  of 
the  votary  of  music  had  undergone  no  other  alteration 
from  that  so  lately  described,  except  that  he  had  covered 
his  bald  head  with  the  triangular  beaver,  which  had  not 
proved  sufficiently  alluring  to  excite  the  cupidity  of  any 
of  his  captors. 

The  ingenious  Hawkeye,  who  recalled  the  hasty  man 
ner  in  which  the  other  had  abandoned  his  post  at  the 
bedside  of  the  sick  woman,  was  not  without  his  suspi 
cions  concerning  the  subject  of  so  much  solemn  delibera 
tion.  First  making  the  circuit  of  the  hut,  and  ascertaining 
that  it  stood  quite  alone,  and  that  the  character  of  its 
inmate  was  likely  to  protect  it  from  visitors,  he  ventured 
through  its  low  door,  into  the  very  presence  of  Gamut. 
The  position  of  the  latter  brought  the  fire  between  them  ; 
and  when  Hawkeye  had  seated  himself  on  end,  near  a 
minute  elapsed,  during  which  the  two  remained  regard 
ing  each  other  without  speaking.  The  suddenness  and 
the  nature  of  the  surprise  had  nearly  proved  too  much 
for — we  will  not  say  the  philosophy — but  for  the  faith 
and  resolution  of  David.  He  fumbled  for  his  pitch- 
pipe,  and  arose  with  a  confused  intention  of  attempting 
a  musical  exorcism. 

"  Dark  and  mysterious  monster !  "  he  exclaimed,  while 
with  trembling  hands  he  disposed  of  his  auxiliary  eyes, 
and  sought  his  never-failing  resource  in  trouble,  the 
gifted  version  of  the  Psalms ;  "  I  know  not  your  nature 
nor  intents;  but  if  aught  you  meditate  against  the  person 
and  rights  of  one  of  the/ humblest  servants  of  the  temple, 
listen  to  the  inspired  language  of  the  youth  of  Israel, 
and  repent." 

The  bear  shook  his  shaggy  sides,  and  then  a  well- 
known  voice  replied, — 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  399 

"  Put  up  the  tooting  we'pon,  and  teach  your  throat 
modesty.  Five  words  of  plain  and  comprehensible  Eng 
lish  are  worth,  just  now,  an  hour  of  squalling." 

"  What  art  thou?"  demanded  David,  utterly  disquali 
fied  to  pursue  his  original  intention,  and  nearly  gasping 
for  breath. 

"  A  man  like  yourself ;  and  one  whose  blood  is  as  lit 
tle  tainted  by  the  cross  of  a  bear,  or  an  Indian,  as  your 
own.  Have  you  so  soon  forgotten  from  whom  you 
received  the  foolish  instrument  you  hold  in  your 
hand?" 

"  Can  these  things  be  ? "  returned  David,  breathing 
more  freely,  as  the  truth  began  to  dawn  upon  him.  "  I 
have  found  many  marvels  during  my  sojourn  with  the 
heathen,  but  surely  nothing  to  excel  this !  " 

"  Come,  come,"  returned  Hawkeye,  uncasing  his  hon 
est  countenance,  the  better  to  assure  the  wavering  con 
fidence  of  his  companion ;  "  you  may  see  a  skin,  which, 
if  it  be  not  as  white  as  one  of  the  gentle  ones,  has 
no  tinge  of  red  to  it  that  the  winds  of  the  heaven 
and  the  sun  have  not  bestowed.  Now  let  us  to  busi 
ness." 

"  First  tell  me  of  the  maiden,  and  of  the  youth  who 
so  bravely  sought  her,"  interrupted  David. 

"  Aye,  they  are  happily  freed  from  the  tomahawks 
of  these  varlets.  But  can  you  put  me  on  the  scent  of 
Uncas?" 

"  The  young  man  is  in  bondage,  and  much  I  fear  his 
death  is  decreed.  I  greatly  mourn  that  one  so  well  dis 
posed  should  die  in  his  ignorance, ^nd  I  have  sought  a 
goodly  hymn — 

"Can  you  lead  me  to  him?" 

"  The  task  will  not  be  difficult,"  returned  David,  hesi- 


4OO  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

tating ;  "  though  I  greatly  fear  your  presence  would 
rather  increase  than  mitigate  his  unhappy  fortunes." 

"  No  more  words,  but  lead  on,"  returned  Hawkeye, 
concealing  his  face  again,  and  setting  the  example  in  his 
own  person,  by  instantly  quitting  the  lodge. 

As  they  proceeded,  the  scout  ascertained  that  his  com 
panion  found  access  to  Uncas,  under  privilege  of  his 
imaginary  infirmity,  aided  by  the  favor  he  had  acquired 
with  one  of  the  guards,  who,  in  consequence  of  speak 
ing  a  little  English,  had  been  selected  by  David  as  the 
subject  of  a  religious  conversion.  How  far  the  Huron 
comprehended  the  intentions  of  his  new  friend,  may  well 
be  doubted;  but  as  exclusive  attention  is  as  flattering  to 
a  savage  as  to  a  more  civilized  individual,  it  had  pro 
duced  the  effect  we  have  mentioned.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
repeat  the  shrewd  manner  with  which  the  scout  extracted 
these  particulars  from  the  simple  David;  neither  shall 
we  dwell  in  this  place  on  the  nature  of  the  instructions 
he  delivered,  when  completely  master  of  all  the  necessary 
facts;  as  the  whole  will  be  sufficiently  explained  to  the 
reader  in  the  course  of  the  narrative. 

The  lodge  in  which  Uncas  was  confined  was  in  the 
very  center  of  the  village,  and  in  a  situation,  perhaps, 
more  difficult  than  any  other  to  approach,  or  leave,  with 
out  observation.  But  it  was  not  the  policy  of  Hawkeye 
to  affect  the  least  concealment.  Presuming  on  his  dis 
guise,  and  his  ability  to  sustain  the  character  he  had  as 
sumed,  he  took  the  most  plain  and  direct  route  to  the 
place.  The  hour,  however,  afforded  him  some  little  of 
that  protection  which  he  appeared  so  much  to  despise. 
The  boys  were  already  buried  in  sleep,  and  all  the  women, 
and  most  of  the  warriors,  had  retired  to  their  lodges  for 
the  night.  Four  or  five  of  the  latter  only  lingered  about 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  401 

the  door  of  the  prison  of  Uncas,  wary  but  close  ob 
servers  of  the  manner  of  their  captive. 

At  the  sight  of  Gamut,  accompanied  by  one  in  the 
well-known  masquerade  of  their  most  distinguished  con 
jurer,  they  readily  made  way  for  them  both.  Still  they 
betrayed  no  intention  to  depart.  On  the  other  hand, 
they  were  evidently  disposed  to  remain  bound  to 
the  place  by  an  additional  interest  in  the  mysterious 
mummeries  that  they  of  course  expected  from  such  a 
visit. 

From  the  total  inability  of  the  scout  to  address  the 
Hurons  in  their  own  language,  he  was  compelled  to 
trust  the  conversation  entirely  to  David.  Notwithstand 
ing  the  simplicity  of  the  latter,  he  did  ample  justice 
to  the  instructions  he  had  received,  more  than  ful filling 
the  strongest  hopes  of  his  teacher. 

"  The  Delawares  are  women !  "  he  exclaimed,  address 
ing  himself  to  the  savage  who  had  a  slight  understanding 
of  the  language  in  which  he  spoke ;  "  the  Yengeese,  my 
foolish  countrymen,  have  told  them  to  take  up  the  toma 
hawk,  and  strike  their  fathers  in  the  Canadas,  and  they 
have  forgotten  their  sex.  Does  my  brother  wish  to  hear 
Le  Cerf  Agile  ask  for  his  petticoats,  and  see  him  weep 
before  the  Hurons,  at  the  stake  ?  " 

The  exclamation  "  Hugh !  "  delivered  in  a  strong  tone 
of  assent,  announced  the  gratification  the  savage  would 
receive  in  witnessing  such  an  exhibition  of  weakness  in 
an  enemy  so  long  hated  and  so  much  feared. 

"  Then  let  him  step  aside,  and  the  cunning  man  will 
blow  upon  the  dog!  Tell  it  to  my  brothers." 

The  Huron  explained  the  meaning  of  David  to  his 
fellows,,  who,  in  their  turn,  listened  to  the  project  with 
that  sort  of  satisfaction  that  their  untamed  spirits  might 


4O2  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

be  expected  to  find  in  such  a  refinement  in  cruelty.  They 
drew  back  a  little  from  the  entrance,  and  motioned 
to  the  supposed  conjurer  to  enter.  But  the  bear,  in 
stead  of  obeying,  maintained  the  seat  it  had  taken,  and 
growled. 

:f  The  cunning  man  is  afraid  that  his  breath  will  blow 
upon  his  brothers,  and  take  away  their  courage  too," 
continued  David,  improving  the  hint  he  received ;  "  they 
must  stand  farther  off/' 

The  Hurons,  who  would  have  deemed  such  a  mis 
fortune  the  heaviest  calamity  that  could  befall  them,  fell 
back  in  a  body,  taking  a  position  where  they  were  out 
of  earshot,  though  at  the  same  time  they  could  com 
mand  a  view  of  the  entrance  to  the  lodge.  Then,  as  if 
satisfied  of  their  safety,  the  scout  left  his  position,  and 
slowly  entered  the  place.  It  was  silent  and  gloomy,  be 
ing  tenanted  solely  by  the  captive,  and  lighted  by  the 
dying  embers  of  a  fire,  which  had  been  used  for  the 
purposes  of  cookery. 

Uncas  occupied  a  distant  corner,  in  a  reclining  atti 
tude,  being  rigidly  bound,  both  hands  and  feet,  by  strong 
and  painful  withes.  When  the  frightful  object  first  pre 
sented  itself  to  the  young  Mohican,  he  did  not  deign  to 
bestow  a  single  glance  on  the  animal.  The  scout,  who 
had  left  David  at  the  door,  to  ascertain  they  were  not 
observed,  thought  it  prudent  to  preserve  his  disguise 
until  assured  of  their  privacy.  Instead  of  speaking, 
therefore,  he  exerted  himself  to  enact  one  of  the  antics 
of  the  animal  he  represented.  The  young  Mohican,  who 
at  first  believed  his  enemies  had  sent  in  a  real  beast  to 
torment  him,  and  try  his  nerves,  detected,  in  those  per 
formances  that  to  Heyward  had  appeared  so  accurate, 
certain  blemishes,  that  at  once  betrayed  the  counterfeit. 


"  His  keen  eye   rested  on  the  shaggy  monster." — Page  403. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  403 

Had  Hawkeye  been  aware  of  the  low  estimation  in  which 
"the  more  skilful  Uncas  held  his  representations,  he  would 
probably  have  prolonged  the  entertainment  a  little  in 
pique.  But  the  scornful  expression  of  the  young  man's 
eye  admitted  of  so  many  constructions,  that  the  worthy 
scout  was  spared  the  mortification  of  such  a  discovery. 
As  soon,  therefore,  as  David  gave  the  preconcerted  sig 
nal,  a  low  hissing  sound  was  heard  in  the  lodge,  in  place 
of  the  fierce  growlings  of  the  bear. 

Uncas  had  cast  his  body  back  against  the  wall  of  the 
hut,  and  closed  his  eyes,  as  if  willing  to  exclude  so  con 
temptible  and  disagreeable  an  object  from  his  sight.  But 
the  moment  the  noise  of  the  serpent  was  heard,  he  arose, 
and  cast  his  looks  on  each  side  of  him,  bending  his  head 
low,  and  turning  it  inquiringly  in  every  direction,  until 
his  keen  eye  rested  on  the  shaggy  monster,  where  it 
remained  riveted,  as  though  fixed  by  the  power  of  a 
charm.  Again  the  same  sounds  were  repeated,  evidently 
proceeding  from  the  mouth  of  the  beast.  Once  more  the 
eyes  of  the  youth  roamed  over  the  interior  of  the  lodge, 
and  returning  to  their  former  resting  place,  he  uttered, 
in  a  deep,  suppressed  voice,— 

"  Hawkeye !  " 

"  Cut  his  bands,"  said  Hawkeye  to  David,  who  just 
then  approached  them. 

The  singer  did  as  he  was  ordered,  and  Uncas  found 
his  limbs  released.  At  the  same  moment  the  dried  skin 
of  the  animal  rattled,  and  presently  the  scout  arose  to 
his  feet,  in  proper  person.  The  Mohican  appeared  to 
comprehend  the  nature  of  the  attempt  his  friend  had 
made,  intuitively ;  neither  tongue  nor  feature  betraying 
another  symptom  of  surprise.  When  Hawkeye  had  cast 
his  shaggy  vestment,  which  was  done  by  simply  loosing 


404  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

certain  thongs  of  skin,  he  drew  a  long  glittering  knife, 
and  put  it  in  the  hands  of  Uncas. 

'  The  red  Hurons  are  without,"  he  said ;  "  let  us  be 
ready." 

At  the  same  time  he  laid  his  finger  significantly  on  an 
other  similar  weapon,  both  being  the  fruits  of  his  prowess 
among  their  enemies  during  the  evening. 

"  We  will  go,"  said  Uncas. 

"Whither?" 

'  To  the  Tortoises ;  they  are  the  children  of  my  grand 
fathers." 

"  Aye,  lad,"  said  the  scout  in  English — a  language  he 
was  apt  to  use  when  a  little  abstracted  in  mind ;  "  the 
same  blood  runs  in  your  veins,  I  believe;  but  time  and 
distance  have  a  little  changed  its'  color.  What  shall  we 
do  with  the  Mingos  at  the  door?  They  count  six,  and 
this  singer  is  as  good  as  nothing." 

"  The  Hurons  are  boasters,"  said  Uncas  scornfully; 
"  their  '  totem  '  is  a  moose,  and  they  run  like  snails.  The 
Delawares  are  children  of  the  tortoise,  and  they  out 
strip  the  deer." 

"  Aye,  lad,  there  is  truth  in  what  you  say ;  and  I  doubt 
not,  on  a  rush,  you  would  pass  the  whole  nation;  and, 
in  a  straight  race  of  two  miles,  would  be  in,  and  get  your 
breath  again,  afore  a  knave  of  them  all  was  within  hear 
ing  of  the  other  village.  But  the  gift  of  a  white  man  lies 
more  in  his  arms  than  in  his  legs.  As  for  myself,  I  can 
brain  a  Huron  as  well  as  a  better  man;  but  when  it 
comes  to  a  race,  the  knaves  would  prove  too  much 
for  me." 

Uncas,  who  had  already  approached  the  door,  in  readi 
ness  to  lead  the  way,  now  recoiled ;  and  placed  himself, 
once  more,  in  the. bottom  of  the  lodge.  But  Hawkeye, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  405 

who  was  too  much  occupied  with  his  own  thoughts  to 
note  the  movement,  continued  speaking  more  to  himself 
than  to  his  companion. 

"  After  all,"  he  said,  "  it  is  unreasonable  to  keep  one 
man  in  bondage  to  the  gifts  of  another.  So,  Uncas,  you 
had  better  take  the  leap,  while  I  put  on  the  skin  again, 
and  trust  to  cunning  for  want  of  speed." 

The  young  Mohican  made  no  reply,  but  quietly  folded 
his  arms,  and  leaned  his  body  against  one  of  the  up 
right  posts  that  supported  the  wall  of  the  hut. 

"  Well,"  said  the  scout,  looking  up  at  him,  "  why  do 
you  tarry?  There  will  be  time  enough  for  me,  as  the 
knaves  will  give  chase  to  you  at  first." 

"  Uncas  will  stay,"  was  the  calm  reply. 

"  For  what?  " 

"  To  fight  with  his  father's  brother,  and  die  with  the 
friend  of  the  Delawares." 

"  Aye,  lad,"  returned  Hawkeye,  squeezing  the  hand 
of  Uncas  between  his  own  iron  fingers ;  "  'twould  have 
been  more  like  a  Mingo  than  a  Mohican  had  you  left 
me.  But  I  thought  I  would  make  the  offer,  seeing  that 
youth  commonly  loves  life.  Well,  what  can't  be  done 
by  main  courage,  in  war,  must  be  done  by  circumvention. 
Put  on  the  skin ;  I  doubt  not  you  can  play  the  bear  nearly 
as  well  as  myself." 

Whatever  might  have  been  the  private  opinion  of 
Uncas  of  their  respective  abilities  in  this  particular,  his 
grave  countenance  manifested  no  opinion  of  his  own 
superiority.  He  silently  and  expeditiously  encased  him 
self  in  the  covering  of  the  beast,  and  then  awaited  such 
other  movements  as  his  more  aged  companion  saw  fit 
to  dictate. 

"  Now,    friend,"    said    Hawkeye,    addressing    David, 


406  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  an  exchange  of  garments  will  be  a  great  convenience 
to  you,  inasmuch  as  you  are  but  little  accustomed  to  the 
make-shifts  of  the  wilderness.  Here,  take  my  hunting 
shirt  and  cap,  and  give  me  your  blanket  and  hat.  You 
must  trust  me  with  the  book  and  spectacles,  as  well  as 
the  tooter,  too;  if  we  ever  meet  again,  in  better  times, 
you  shall  have  all  back  again,  with  many  thanks  into  the 
bargain." 

David  parted  with  the  several  articles  named  with  a 
readiness  that  would  have  done  great  credit  to  his  lib 
erality,  had  he  not  certainly  profited,  in  many  particulars, 
by  the  exchange.  Hawkeye  was  not  long  in  assuming 
his  borrowed  garments ;  and  when  his  restless  eyes  were 
hid  behind  the  glasses,  and  his  head  was  surmounted  by 
the  triangular  beaver,  as  their  statures  were  not  dis 
similar,  he  might  readily  have  passed  for  the  singer  by 
starlight.  As  soon  as  these  dispositions  were  made, 
the  scout  turned  to  David,  and  gave  him  his  parting 
instructions. 

"Are  you  much  given  to  cowardice?"  he  bluntly 
asked,  by  way  of  obtaining  a  suitable  understanding  of 
the  whole  case  before  he  ventured  a  prescription. 

"  My  pursuits  are  peaceful,  and  my  temper,  I  humbly 
trust,  is  greatly  given  to  mercy  and  love,"  returned 
David,  a  little  nettled  at  so  direct  an  attack  on  his  man 
hood  ;  "  but  there  are  none  who  can  say  that  I  have  ever 
forgotten  my  faith  in  the  Lord,  even  in  the  greatest 
straits." 

"  Your  chiefest  danger  will  be  at  the  moment  when 
the  savages  find  out  that  they  have  been  deceived.  If 
you  are  not  then  knocked  in  the  head,  your  being  a  non- 
composser  will  protect  you ;  and  you'll  then  have  good 
reason  to  expect  to  die  in  your  bed.  If  you  stay,  it 


> 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  407 

must  be  to  sit  down  here  in  the  shadow,  and  take  the 
part  of  Uncas,  until  such  times  as  the  cunning  of  the 
Indians  discover  the  cheat,  when,  as  I  have  already  said, 
your  time  of  trial  will  come.  So  choose  for  yourself, — 
to  make  a  rush  or  tarry  here." 

"  Even  so,"  said  David,  firmly ;  "  I  wiU  abide  in  the 
place  of  the  Delaware.  Bravely  and  generously  has  he 
battled  in  my  behalf;  and  this,  and  more,  will  I  dare  in 
his  service." 

"  You  have  spoken  as  a  man,  and  like  one  who,  under 
wiser  schooling,  would  have  been  brought  to  better 
things.  Hold  your  head  down,  and  draw  in  your  legs; 
their  formation  might  tell  the  truth  too  early.  Keep 
silent  as  long  as  may  be ;  and  it  would  be  wise,  when  you 
do  speak,  to  break  out  suddenly  in  one  of  your  shout 
ings,  which  will  serve  to  remind  the  Indians  that  you 
are  not  altogether  as  responsible  as  men  should  be.  If, 
however,  they  take  your  scalp,  as  I  trust  and  believe  they 
will  not,  depend  on  it,  Uncas  and  I  will  not  forget  the 
deed,  but  revenge  it  as  becomes  true  warriors  and  trusty 
friends." 

"  Hold !  "  said  David,  perceiving  that  with  this  assur 
ance  they  were  about  to  leave  him ;  "  I  am  an  unworthy 
and  humble  follower  of  One  who  taught  not  the  dam 
nable  principle  of  revenge.  Should  I  fall,  therefore,  seek 
no  victims  to  my  manes,  but  rather  forgive  my  destroy 
ers;  and  if  you  remember  them  at  all,  let  it  be  in  prayers 
for  the  enlightening  of  their  minds,  and  for  their  eternal 
welfare." 

The  scout  hesitated,  and  appeared  to  muse. 

"  There  is  a  principle  in  that,"  he  said,  "  different  from 
the  law  of  the  woods;  and  yet  it  is  fair  and  noble  to 
reflect  upon."  Then,  heaving  a  heavy  sigh,  probably 


408  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

among  the  last  he  ever  drew  in  pining  for  a  condition 
he  had  so  long  abandoned,  he  added :  "  It  is  what  I  would 
wish  to  practise  myself,  as  one  without  a  cross  of  blood, 
though  it  is  not  always  easy  to  deal  with  an  Indian  as 
you  would  with  a  fellow  Christian.  God  bless  you, 
friend;  I  do  believe  your  scent  is  not  greatly  wrong, 
when  the  matter  is  duly  considered,  and  keeping  eter 
nity  before  the  eyes,  though  much  depends  on  the  nat 
ural  gifts,  and  the  force  of  temptation." 

So  saying,  the  scout  returned  and  shook  David  cor 
dially  by  the  hand ;  after  which  act  of  friendship  he  im 
mediately  left  the  lodge,  attended  by  the  new  representa 
tive  of  the  beast. 

The  instant  Hawkeye  found  himself  under  the  ob 
servation  of  the  Hurons,  he  drew  up  his  tall  form  in 
the  rigid  manner  of  David,  threw  out  his  arm  in  the 
act  of  keeping  time,  and  commenced  what  he  intended 
for  an  imitation  of  his  psalmody.  Happily  for  the  suc 
cess  of  this  delicate  adventure,  he  had  to  deal  with  ears 
but  little  practised  in  the  concord  of  sweet  sounds,  or 
the  miserable  effort  would  infallibly  have  been  detected. 
It  was  necessary  to  pass  within  a  dangerous  proximity  of 
the  dark  group  of  the  savages,  and  the  voice  of  the  scout 
grew  louder  as  they  drew  nigher.  When  at  the  nearest 
point,  the  Huron  who  spoke  the  English  thrust  out  an 
arm,  and  stopped  the  supposed  singing-master. 

"  The  Delaware  dog !  "  he  said,  leaning  forward,  and 
peering  through  the  dim  light  to  catch  the  expression  of 
the  other's  features ;  "  is  he  afraid  ?  will  the  Hurons  hear 
his  groans  ?  " 

A  growl  so  exceedingly  fierce  and  natural  proceeded 
from  the  beast,  that  the  young  Indian  released  his  hold 
and  started  aside,  as  if  to  assure  himself  that  it  was  not 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  409 

a  veritable  bear,  and  no  counterfeit,  that  was  rolling  be 
fore  him.  Hawkeye,  who  feared  his  voice  would  be 
tray  him  to  his  subtle  enemies,  gladly  profited  by  the 
interruption,  to  break  out  anew  in  such  a  burst  of 
musical  expression  as  would,  probably,  in  a  more  refined 
state  of  society  have  been  termed  "  a  grand  crash." 
Among  his  actual  auditors,  however,  it  merely  gave  him 
an  additional  claim  to  that  respect  which  they  never 
withhold  from  such  as  are  believed  to  be  the  subjects  of 
mental  alienation.  The  little  knot  of  Indians  drew  back 
in  a  body,  and  suffered,  as  they  thought,  the  conjurer 
and  his  inspired  assistant  to  proceed. 

It  required  no  common  exercise  of  fortitude  in  Uncas 
and  the  scout,  to  continue  the  dignified  and  deliberate 
pace  they  had  assumed  in  passing  the  lodges;  especially 
as  they  immediately  perceived  that  curiosity  had  so  far 
mastered  fear,  as  to  induce  the  watchers  to  approach  the 
hut,  in  order  to  witness  the  effect  of  the  incantations. 
The  least  injudicious  or  impatient  movement  on  the  part 
of  David  might  betray  them,  and  time  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  insure  the  safety  of  the  scout.  The  loud 
noise  the  latter  conceived  it  politic  to  continue,  drew 
many  curious  gazers  to  the  doors  of  the  different  huts  as 
they  passed;  and  once  or  twice  a  dark-looking  warrior 
stepped  across  their  path,  led  to  the  act  by  superstition 
or  watchfulness.  They  were  not,  however,  interrupted; 
the  darkness  of  the  hour,  and  the  boldness  of  the  at 
tempt,  proving  their  principal  friends. 

The  adventurers  had  got  clear  of  the  village,  and  were 
now  swiftly  approaching  the  shelter  of  the  woods,  when 
a  loud  and  long  cry  arose  from  the  lodge  where  Uncas 
had  been  confined.  The  Mohican  started  on  his  feet, 
and  shook  his  shaggy  covering,  as  though  the  animal 


4io  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

he  counterfeited  was  about  to  make  some  desperate 
effort. 

"  Hold !  "  said  the  scout,  grasping  his  friend  by  the 
shoulder,  "  let  them  yell  again !  Twas  nothing  but 
wonderment." 

He  had  no  occasion  to  delay,  for  the  next  instant  a 
burst  of  cries  filled  the  outer  air,  and  ran  along 
the  whole  extent  of  the  village.  Uncas  cast  his  skin, 
and  stepped  forth  in  his  own  beautiful  proportions. 
Hawkeye  tapped  him  lightly  on  the  shoulder,  and  glided 
ahead. 

"  Now  let  the  devils  strike  our  scent !  "  said  the  scout, 
tearing  two  rifles,  with  all  their  attendant  accouterments, 
from  beneath  a  bush,  and  flourishing  "  Killdeer  "  as  he 
handed  Uncas  his  weapon ;  "  two,  at  least,  will  find  it  to 
their  deaths." 

Then  throwing  their  pieces  to  a  low  trail,  like  sports 
men  in  readiness  for  their  game,  they  dashed  forward, 
and  were  soon  buried  in  the  somber  darkness  of  the 
forest. 


CHAPTER 
XXVII. 


"Ant.  -        I  shall  remember:     . 

When  Caesar  says  Do  this,  it  is  performed.", 

Julius  C&sar. 

THE  impatience  of  the  savages  who  lingered  about 
the  prison  of  Uncas,  as  has  been  seen,  had  over 
come  their  dread  of  the  conjurer's  breath.  They  stole 
cautiously,  and  with  beating  hearts,  to  a  crevice,  through 
which  the  faint  light  of  the  fire  was  glimmering.  For 
several  minutes  they  mistook  the  form  of  David  for  that 
of  their  prisoner;  but  the  very  accident  which  Hawkeye 
had  foreseen  occurred.  Tired  of  keeping  the  extremities 
of  his  long  person  so  near  together,  the  singer  gradually 
suffered  the  lower  limbs  to  extend  themselves,  until  one 
of  his  misshapen  feet  actually  came  in  contact  with  and 
shoved  aside  the  embers  of  the  fire.  At  first  the  Hurons 
believed  the  Delaware  had  been  thus  deformed  by  witch 
craft.  But  when  David,  unconscious  of  being  observed, 
turned  his  head,  and  exposed  his  simple,  mild  counte 
nance,  in  place  of  the  haughty  lineaments  of  their  pris 
oner,  it  would  have  exceeded  the  credulity  of  even  a  na 
tive  to  have  doubted  any  longer.  They  rushed  together 

411 


412  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

into  the  lodge,  and  laying  their  hands,  with  but  little 
ceremony,  on  their  captive,  immediately  detected  the  im 
position.  Then  arose  the  cry  first  heard  by  the  fugitives. 
It  was  succeeded  by  the  most  frantic  and  angry  demon 
strations  of  vengeance.  David,  however  firm  in  his  de 
termination  to  cover  the  retreat  of  his  friends,  was  com 
pelled  to  believe  that  his  own  final  hour  had  come.  De 
prived  of  his  book  and  his  pipe,  he  was  fain  to  trust 
to  a  memory  that  rarely  failed  him  on  such  subjects;  and 
breaking  forth  in  a  loud  and  impassioned  strain,  he  en 
deavored  to  soothe  his  passage  into  the  other  world,  by 
singing  the  opening  verse  of  a  funeral  anthem.  The 
Indians  were  seasonably  reminded  of  his  infirmity,  and 
rushing  into  the  open  air  they  aroused  the  village  in  the 
manner  described. 

A  native  warrior  fights  as  he  sleeps,  without  the  pro 
tection  of  anything  defensive.  The  sounds  of  the  alarm 
were,  therefore,  hardly  uttered,  before  two  hundred  men 
were  afoot,  and  ready  for  the  battle  or  the  chase,  as 
either  might  be  required.  The  escape  was  soon  known ; 
and  the  whole  tribe  crowded,  in  a  body,  around  the 
council-lodge,  impatiently  awaiting  the  instruction  of 
their  chiefs.  In  such  a  sudden  demand  on  their  wisdom, 
the  presence  of  the  cunning  Magua  could  scarcely  fail  of 
being  needed.  His  name  was  mentioned,  and  all  looked 
round  in  wonder  that  he  did  not  appear.  Messengers 
were  then  despatched  to  his  lodge,  requiring  his  presence. 

In  the  meantime,  some  of  the  swiftest  and  most  dis 
creet  of  the  young  men  were  ordered  to  make  the  circuit 
of  the  clearing,  under  cover  of  the  woods,  in  order  to 
ascertain  that  their  suspected  neighbors,  the  Delawares, 
designed  no  mischief.  Women  and  children  ran  to  and 
fro;  and,  in  short,  the  whole  encampment  exhibited  an- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  413 

other  scene  of  wild  and  savage  confusion.  Gradually, 
however,  these  symptoms  of  disorder  diminished;  and 
in  a  few  minutes  the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  chiefs 
were  assembled  in  the  lodge,  in  grave  consultation. 

The  clamor  of  many  voices  soon  announced  that  a 
party  approached,  who  might  be  expected  to  communi 
cate  some  intelligence  that  would  explain  the  mystery  of 
the  noval  surprise.  The  crowd  without  gave  way,  and 
several  warriors  entered  the  place,  bringing  with  them 
the  hapless  conjurer,  who  had  been  left  so  long  by  the 
scout  in  duresse. 

Notwithstanding  this  man  was  held  in  very  unequal 
estimation  among  the  Hurons,  some  believing  implicitly 
in  his  power,  and  others  deeming  him  an  impostor,  he 
was  now  listened  to  by  all  with  the  deepest  attention. 
When  his  brief  story  was  ended,  the  father  of  the  sick 
woman  stepped  forth,  and,  in  a  few  pithy  expressions, 
related,  in  his  turn,  what  he  knew.  These  two  narra 
tives  gave  a  proper  direction  to  the  subsequent  inquiries, 
which  were  now  made  with  the  characteristic  cunning  of 
savages. 

Instead  of  rushing  in  a  confused  and  disorderly  throng 
to  the  cavern,  ten  of  the  wisest  and  firmest  among  the 
chiefs  were  selecteH  to  prosecute  the  investigation.  As 
no  time  was  to  be  lost,  the  instant  the  choice  was  made 
the  individuals  appointed  rose  in  a  body,  and  left  the 
place  without  speaking.  On  reaching  the  entrance,  the 
younger  men  in  advance  made  way  for  their  seniors; 
and  the  whole  proceeded  along  the  low,  dark  gallery, 
with  the  firmness  of  warriors  ready  to  devote  themselves 
to  the  public  good,  though,  at  the  same  time,  secretly 
doubting  the  nature  of  the  power  with  which  they  were 
about  to  contend. 


41 4  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

The  outer  apartment  of  the  cavern  was  silent  and 
gloomy.  The  woman  lay  in  her  usual  place  and  posture, 
though  there  were  those  present  who  affirmed  they  had 
seen  her  borne  to  the  woods,  by  the  supposed  "  medicine 
of  the  white  men."  Such  a  direct  and  palpable  contra 
diction  of  the  tale  related  by  the  father,  caused  all  eyes 
to  be  turned  on  him.  Chafed  by  the  silent  imputation, 
and  inwardly  troubled  by  so  unaccountable  a  circum 
stance,  the  chief  advanced  to  the  side  of  the  bed,  and 
stooping,  cast  an  incredulous  look  at  the  features,  as  if 
distrusting  their  reality.  His  daughter  was  dead. 

The  unerring  feeling  of  nature  for  a  moment  prevailed, 
and  the  old  warrior  hid  his  eyes  in  sorrow.  Then  recov 
ering  his  self-possession,  he  faced  his  companions,  and 
pointing  towards  the  corpse,  he  said,  in  the  language  of 
his  people, — 

"  The  wife  of  my  young  man  has  left  us !  the  Great 
Spirit  is  angry  with  his  children." 

The  mournful  intelligence  was  received  in  solemn  si 
lence.  After  a  short  pause,  one  of  the  elder  Indians  was 
about  to  speak,  when  a  dark-looking  object  was  seen 
rolling  out  of  an  adjoining  apartment,  into  the  very  cen 
ter  of  the  room  where  they  stood.  Ignorant  of  the  nature 
of  the  beings  they  had  to  deal  with,  the  whole  party  drew 
back  a  little,  and  gazed  in  admiration,  until  the  object 
fronted  the  light,  and  rising  on  end,  exhibited  the  dis 
torted,  but  still  fierce  and  sullen  features  of  Magua.  The 
discovery  was  succeeded  by  a  general  exclamation  of 
amazement. 

As  soon,  however,  as  the  true  situation  of  the  chief 
was  understood,  several  ready  knives  appeared,  and  his 
limbs  and  tongue  were  quickly  released.  The  Huron 
arose,  and  shook  himself  like  a  lion  quitting  his  lair.  Not 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  415 

a  word  escaped  him,  though  his  hand  played  con 
vulsively  with  the  handle  of  his  knife,  while  his  lower 
ing  eyes  scanned  the  whole  party,  as  if  they  sought  an 
object  suited  to  the  first  burst  of  his  vengeance. 

It  was  happy  for  Uncas  and  the  scout,  and  even  David, 
that  they  were  all  beyond  the  reach  of  his  arm  at  such 
a  moment ;  for,  assuredly,  no  refinement  in  cruelty  would 
then  have  deferred  their  deaths,  in  opposition  to  the 
promptings  of  the  fierce  temper  that  nearly  choked  him. 
Meeting  everywhere  faces  that  he  knew  as  friends,  the 
savage  grated  his  teeth  together  like  rasps  of  iron,  and 
swallowed  his  passion  for  want  of  a  victim  on  whom  to 
vent  it.  This  exhibition  of  anger  was  noted  by  all  pres 
ent  ;  and,  from  an  apprehension  of  exasperating  a  temper 
that  was  already  chafed  nearly  to  madness,  several  min 
utes  were  suffered  to  pass  before  another  word  was  ut 
tered.  When,  however,  suitable  time  had  elapsed,  the 
oldest  of  the  party  spoke. 

"  My  friend  has  found  an  enemy/'  he  said.  "  Is  he 
nigh,  that  the  Hurons  may  take  revenge?" 

"  Let  the  Delaware  die!  "  exclaimed  Magua,  in  a  voice 
of  thunder. 

Another  long  and  expressive  silence  was  observed,  and 
was  broken,  as  before,  with  due  precaution,  by  the  same 
individual. 

"The  Mohican  is  swift  of  foot,  and  leaps  far,"  he 
said;  "  but  my  young  men  are  on  his  trail." 

"  Is  he  gone  ? "  demanded  Magua,  in  tones  so  deep 
and  guttural,  that  they  seemed  to  proceed  from  his  in 
most  chest. 

"  An  evil  spirit  has  been  among  us,  and  the  Delaware 
has  blinded  our  eyes." 

"  An  evil  spirit !  "  repeated  the  other,  mockingly ;  "  'tis 


4i 6  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  spirit  that  has  taken  the  lives  of  so  many  Hurons :  the 
spirit  that  slew  my  young  men  at  '  the  tumbling  river  ' ; 
that  took  their  scalps  at  the  '  healing  spring ' ;  and  who 
has  now  bound  the  arms  of  Le  Renard  Subtil!  " 

"  Of  whom  does  my  friend  speak?" 

"  Of  the  dog  who  carries  the  heart  and  cunning  of  a 
Huron  under  a  pale  skin — La  Longue  Carabine." 

The  pronunciation  of  so  terrible  a  name  produced  the 
usual  effect  among  his  auditors.  But  when  time  was 
given  for  reflection,  and  the  warriors  remembered  that 
their  formidable  and  daring  enemy  had  even  been  in 
the  bosom  of  their  encampment,  working  injury,  fearful 
rage  took  the  place  of  wonder,  and  all  those  fierce  pas 
sions  with  which  the  bosom  of  Magua  had  just  been 
struggling  were  suddenly  transferred  to  his  companions. 
Some  among  them  gnashed  their  teeth  in  anger,  others 
vented  their  feelings  in  yells,  and  some,  again,  beat  the 
air  as  frantically  as  if  the  object  of  their  resentment  were 
suffering  under  their  blows.  But  this  sudden  outbreak 
ing  of  temper  as  quickly  subsided  in  the  still  and  sullen 
restraint  they  most  affected,  in  their  moments  of 
inaction. 

Magua,  who  had  in  his  turn  found  leisure  for  reflec 
tion,  now  changed  his  manner,  and  assumed  the  air  of 
one  who  knew  how  to  think  and  act  with  a  dignity  worthy 
of  so  grave  a  subject. 

"  Let  us  go  to  my  people,"  he  said ;  "  they  wait 
for  us." 

His  companions  consented  in  silence,  and  the  whole 
of  the  savage  party  left  the  cavern  and  returned  to  the 
council-lodge.  When  they  were  seated,  all  eyes  turned 
on  Magua,  who  understood,  from  such  an  indication, 
that,  by  common  consent,  they  had  devolved  the  duty 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  417 

of  relating  what  had  passed  on  him.  He  arose,  and 
told  his  tale  without  duplicity  or  reservation.  The  whole 
deception  "practised  by  both  Duncan  and  Hawkeye  was, 
of  course,  laid  naked;  and  no  room  was  found,  even 
for  the  most  superstitious  of  the  tribe,  any  longer  to 
affix  a  doubt  on  the  character  of  the  occurrences.  It 
was  but  too  apparent  that  they  had  been  insultingly, 
shamefully,  disgracefully  deceived.  When  he  had  ended, 
and  resumed  his  seat,  the  collected  tribe — for  his  audi 
tors,  in  substance,  included  all  the  fighting  men  of  the 
party — sat  regarding  each  other  like  men  astonished 
equally  at  the  audacity  and  the  success  of  their  enemies. 
The  next  consideration,  however,  was  the  means  and 
opportunities  for  revenge. 

Additional  pursuers  were  sent  on  the  trail  of  the  fugi 
tives;  and  then  the  chiefs  applied  themselves,  in  earnest, 
to  the  business  of  consultation.  Many  different  expedi 
ents  were  proposed  by  the  elder  warriors,  in  succession, 
to  all  of  which  Magua  was  a  silent  and  respectful  listener. 
That  subtle  savage  had  recovered  his  artifice  and  self- 
command,  and  now  proceeded  towards  his  object  with 
his  customary  caution  and  skill.  It  was  only  when  each 
one  disposed  to  speak  had  uttered  his  sentiments,  that 
he  prepared  to  advance  his  own  opinions.  They  were 
given  with  additional  weight  from  the  circumstance  that 
some  of  the  runners  had  already  returned,  and  reported 
that  their  enemies  had  been  traced  so'  far  as  to  leave 
no  doubt  of  their  having  sought  safety  in  the  neighboring 
camp  of  their  suspected  allies,  the  Delawares.  With  the 
advantage  of  possessing  this  important  intelligence,  the 
chief  warily  laid  his  plans  before  his  fellows,  and,  as 
might  have  been  anticipated,  from  his  eloquence  and 
cunning,  they  were  adopted  without  a  dissenting  voice. 


4i 8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

They  were,  briefly,  as  follows,  both  in  opinions  and  in 
motives. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that,  in  obedience  to  a  pol 
icy  rarely  departed  from,  the  sisters  were  separated  so 
soon  as  they  reached  the  Huron  village.  Magua  had 
early  discovered  that  in  retaining  the  person  of  Alice, 
he  possessed  the  most  effectual  check  on  Cora.  When 
they  parted,  therefore,  he  kept  the  former  within  reach 
of  his  hand,  consigning  the  one  he  most  valued  to  the 
keeping  of  their  allies.  The  arrangement  was  under 
stood  to  be  merely  temporary,  and  was  made  as  much 
with  a  view  to  flatter  his  neighbors  as  in  obedience  to 
the  invariable  rule  of  Indian  policy. 

While  goaded  incessantly  by  those  revengeful  impulses 
that  in  a  savage  seldom  slumber,  the  chief  was  still  at 
tentive  to  his  more  permanent  personal  interests.  The 
follies  and  disloyalty  committed  in  his  youth  were  to  be 
expiated  by  a  long  and  painful  penance,  ere  he  could  be 
restored  to  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  confidence  of  his 
ancient  people;  and  without  confidence,  there  could  be 
no  authority  in  an  Indian  tribe.  In  this  delicate  and 
arduous  situation,  the  crafty  native  had  neglected  no 
means  of  increasing  his  influence;  and  one  of  the  hap 
piest  of  his  expedients  had  been  the  success  with  which 
he  had  cultivated  the  favor  of  their  powerful  and  dan 
gerous  neighbors.  The  result  of  his  experiment  had 
answered  all  the  expectations  of  his  policy ;  for  the 
Hurons  were  in  no  degree  exempt  from  that  governing 
principle  of  nature,  which  induces  man  to  value  his  gifts 
precisely  in  the  degree  that  they  are  appreciated  by 
others. 

But,  while  he  was  making  this  ostensible  sacrifice  to 
general  considerations,  Magua  never  lost  sight  of  his 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  419 

individual  motives.  The  latter  had  been  frustrated  by 
the  unlooked-for  events  which  had  placed  all  his  pris 
oners  beyond  his  control;  and  he  now  found  himself 
reduced  to  the  necessity  of  suing  for  favors  to  those 
whom  it  had  so  lately  been  his  policy  to  oblige. 

Several  of  the  chiefs  had  proposed  deep  and  treach 
erous  schemes  to  surprise  the  Delawares,  and,  by  gain 
ing  possession  of  their  camp,  to  recover  their  prisoners 
by  the  same  blow;  for  all  agreed  that  their  honor,  their 
interests,  and  the  peace  and  happiness  of  their  dead 
countrymen,  imperiously  required  them  speedily  to  im 
molate  some  victims  to  their  revenge.  But  plans  so 
dangerous  to  attempt,  and  of  such  doubtful  issue,  Magua 
found  little  difficulty  in  defeating.  He  exposed  their 
risk  and  fallacy  with  his  usual  skill;  and  it  was  only 
after  he  had  removed  every  impediment,  in  the  shape  of 
opposing  advice,  that  he  ventured  to  propose  his  own 
projects. 

He  commenced  by  flattering  the  self-love  of  his  audi 
tors;  a  never-failing  method  of  commanding  attention. 
When  he  had  enumerated  the  many  different  occasions 
on  which  the  Hurons  had  exhibited  their  courage  and 
prowess,  in  the  punishment  of  insults,  he  digressed  in 
a  high  encomium  on  the  virtue  of  wisdom.  He  painted 
the  quality,  as  forming  the  great  point  of  difference  be 
tween  the  beaver  'and  other  brutes ;  between  brutes  and 
men;  and,  finally,  between  the  Hurons,  in  particular, 
and  the  rest  of  the  human  race.  After  he  had  suffi 
ciently  extolled  the  property  of  discretion,  he  undertook 
to  exhibit  in  what  manner  its  use  was  applicable  to  the 
present  situation  of  their  tribe.  On  the  one  hand,  he 
said,  was  their  great  pale  father,  the  governor  of  the 
Canadas,  who  had  looked  upon  his  children  with  a  hard 


420  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

eye  since  their  tomahawks  had  been  so  red ;  on  the  other, 
a  people  as  numerous  as  themselves,  who  spoke  a  differ 
ent  language,  possessed  different  interests,  and  loved 
them  not,  and  who  would  be  glad  of  any  pretense  to 
bring  them  in  disgrace  with  the  great  white  chief.  Then 
he  spoke  of  their  necessities;  of  the  gifts  they  had  a 
right  to  expect  for  their  past  services ;  of  their  distance 
from  their  proper  hunting-grounds  and  native  villages; 
and  of  the  necessity  of  consulting  prudence  more,  and 
inclination  less,  in  so  critical  circumstances.  When  he 
perceived  that,  while  the  old  men  applauded  his  modera 
tion,  many  of  the  fiercest  and  most  distinguished  of  the 
warriors  listened  to  these  politic  plans  with  lowering 
looks,  he  cunningly  led  them  back  to  the  subject  which 
they  most  loved.  He  spoke  openly  of  the  fruits  of  their 
wisdom,  which  he  boldly  pronounced  would  be  a  com 
plete  and  final  triumph  over  their  enemies.  He  even 
darkly  hinted  that  their  success  might  be  extended,  with 
proper  caution,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  include  the  de 
struction  of  all  whom  they  had  reason  to  hate.  In  short, 
he  so  blended  the  warlike  with  the  artful,  the  obvious 
with  the  obscure,  as  to  flatter  the  propensities  of 
both  parties,  and  to  leave  to  each  subject  of  hope,  while 
neither  could  say  it  clearly  comprehended  his  inten 
tions. 

The  orator,  or  the  politician,  who  can  produce  such 
a  state  of  things,  is  commonly  popular  with  his  con 
temporaries,  however  he  may  be  treated  by  posterity. 
All  perceived  that  more  was  meant  than  was  uttered,  and 
each  one  believed  that  the  hidden  meaning  was  precisely 
such  as  his  own  faculties  enabled  him  to  understand,  or 
his  own  wishes  led  him  to  anticipate. 

In  this  happy  state  of  things,  it  is  not  surprising  that 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  421 

the  management  of  Magua  prevailed.  The  tribe  con 
sented  to  act  wtth  deliberation,  and  with  one  voice  they 
committed  the  direction  of  the  whole  affair  to  the  gov 
ernment  of  the  chief  who  had  suggested  such  wise  and 
intelligible  expedients. 

Magua  had  now  attained  one  great  object  of  all  his 
cunning  and  enterprise.  The  ground  he  had  lost  in  the 
favor  of  his  people  was  completely  regained,  and  he 
found  himself  even  placed  at  the  head  of  affairs.  He 
was,  in  truth,  their  ruler;  and,  so  long  as  he  could  main 
tain  his  popularity,  no  monarch  could  be  more  despotic, 
especially  while  the  tribe  continued  in  a  hostile  country. 
Throwing  off,  therefore,  the  appearance  of  consultation, 
he  assumed  the  grave  air  of  authority  necessary  to  sup 
port  the  dignity  of  his  office. 

Runners  were  despatched  for  intelligence  in  different 
directions;  spies  were  ordered  to  approach  and  feel  the 
encampment  of  the  Delawares;  the  warriors  were  dis 
missed  to  their  lodges,  with  an  intimation  that  their 
services  would  soon  be  needed ;  and  the  women  and  chil 
dren  were  ordered  to  retire,  with  a  warning  that  it  was 
their  province  to  be  silent.  When  these  several  arrange 
ments  were  made,  Magua  passed  through  the  village, 
stopping  here  and  there  to  pay  a  visit  where  he  thought 
his  presence  might  be  flattering  to  the  individual.  He 
confirmed  his  friends  in  their  confidence,  fixed  the 
wavering,  and  gratified  all.  Then  he  sought  his  own 
lodge.  The  wife  the  Huron  chief  had  abandoned,  when 
he  was  chased  from  among  his  people,  was  dead.  Chil 
dren  he  had  none ;  and  he  now  occupied  a  hut,  without 
companion  of  any  sort.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  dilapidated 
and  solitary  structure  in  which  David  had  been  discov 
ered,  and  whom  he  had  tolerated  in  his  presence,  on 


422  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

those  few  occasions  when  they  met,  with  the  contemptu 
ous  indifference  of  a  haughty  superiority. 

Hither,  then,  Magua  retired,  when  his  labors  of  policy 
were  ended.  While  others  slept,  however,  he  neither 
knew  nor  sought  repose.  Had  there  been  one  suffi 
ciently  curious  to  have  watched  the  movements  of  the 
newly  elected  chief,  he  would  have  seen  him  seated  in  a 
corner  of  his  lodge,  musing  on  the  subject  of  his  future 
plans,  from  the  hour  of  his  retirement  to  the  time  he 
had  appointed  for  the  warriors  to  assemble  again.  Occa 
sionally  the  air  breathed  through  the  crevices  of  the  hut, 
and  the  low  flames  that  fluttered  about  the  embers  of  the 
fire  threw  their  wavering  light  on  the  person  of  the  sullen 
recluse.  At  such  moments  it  would  not  have  been  diffi 
cult  to  have  fancied  the  dusky  savage  the  Prince  of  Dark 
ness,  brooding  on  his  own  fancied  wrongs,  and  plot 
ting  evil. 

Long  before  the  day  dawned,  however,  warrior  after 
warrior  entered  the  solitary  hut  of  Magua,  until  they 
had  collected  to  the  number  of  twenty.  Each  bore  his 
rifle,  and  all  the  other  accouterments  of  war,  though  the 
paint  was  uniformly  peaceful.  The  entrance  of  these 
fierce-looking  beings  was  unnoticed ;  some  seating  them 
selves  in  the  shadows  of  the  place,  and  others  standing 
like  motionless  statues,  until  the  whole  of  the  designated 
band  was  collected. 

Then  Magua  arose  and  gave  the  signal  to  proceed, 
marching  himself  in  advance.  They  followed  their 
leader  singly,  and  in  that  well-known  order  which  has 
obtained  the  distinguishing  appellation  of  "  Indian  file." 
Unlike  other  men  engaged  in  the  spirit-stirring  business 
of  war,  they  stole  from  their  camp  unostentatiously  and 
unobserved,  resembling  a  band  of  gliding  specters,  more 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  423 

than  warriors  seeking  the  bubble  reputation  by  deeds  of 
desperate  daring. 

Instead  of  taking  the  path  which  led  directly  towards 
the  camp  of  the  Delawares,  Magua  led  his  party  for 
some  distance  down  the  windings  of  the  stream,  and 
along  the  little  artificial  lake  of  the  beavers.  The  day 
began  to  dawn  as  they  entered  the  clearing  which  had 
been  formed  by  those  sagacious  and  industrious  animals. 
Though  Magua,  who  had  resumed  his  ancient  garb,  bore 
the  outline  of  a  fox  on  the  dressed  skin  which  formed 
his  robe,  there  was  one  chief  of  his  party  who  carried 
the  beaver  as  his  peculiar  symbol,  or  "  totem."  There 
would  have  been  a  species  of  profanity  in  the  omission, 
had  this  man  passed  so  powerful  a  community  of  his 
fancied  kindred,  without  bestowing  some  evidence  of 
his  regard.  Accordingly,  he  paused,  and  spoke  in  words 
as  kind  and  friendly  as  if  he  were  addressing  more  in 
telligent  beings.  He  called  the  animals  his  cousins,  and 
reminded  them  that  his  protecting  influence  was  the  rea 
son  they  remained  unharmed,  while  so  many  avaricious 
traders  were  prompting  the  Indians  to  take  their  lives. 
He  promised  a  continuance  of  his  favors,  and  admon 
ished  them  to  be  grateful.  After  which,  he  spoke  of 
the  expedition  in  which  he  was  himself  engaged,  and 
intimated,  though  with  sufficient  delicacy  and  circum 
locution,  the  expediency  of  bestowing  on  their  rela 
tive  a  portion  of  that  wisdom  for  which  they  were  so 
renowned.1 

During  the  utterance  of  this  extraordinary  address, 

1  These  harangues  of  the  beasts  are  frequent  among  the 
Indians.  They  often  address  their  victims  in  this  way,  reproach 
ing  them  for  cowardice,  or  commending  their  resolution,  as  they 
may  happen  to  exhibit  fortitude,  or  the  reverse  in  suffering. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  companions  of  the  speaker  were  as  grave  and  as  at 
tentive  to  his  language  as  though  they  were  all  equally 
impressed  with  its  propriety.  Once  or  twice  black  ob 
jects  were  seen  rising  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and 
the  Huron  expressed  pleasure,  conceiving  that  his  words 
were  not  bestowed  in  vain.  Just  as  he  had  ended  his 
address,  the  head  of  a  large  beaver  was  thrust  from  the 
door  of  a  lodge,  whose  earthen  walls  had  been  much  in 
jured,  and  which  the  party  had  believed,  from  its  situa 
tion,  to  be  uninhabited.  Such  an  extraordinary  sign  of 
confidence  was  received  by  the  orator  as  a  highly  fa 
vorable  omen ;  and  though  the  animal  retreated  a  little 
precipitately,  he  was  lavish  of  his  thanks  and  com 
mendations. 

When  Magua  thought  sufficient  time  had  been  lost 
in  gratifying  the  family  affection  of  the  warrior,  he  again 
made  the  signal  to  proceed.  As  the  Indians  moved  away 
in  a  body,  and  with  a  step  that  would  have  been  inaudi 
ble  to  the  ears  of  any  common  man,  the  same  venerable- 
looking  beaver  once  more  ventured  his  head  from  its 
cover.  Had  any  of  the  Hurons  turned  to  look  behind 
them,  they  would  have  seen  the  animal  watching  their 
movements  with  an  interest  and  sagacity  that  might 
easily  have  been  mistaken  for  reason.  Indeed,  so  very 
distinct  and  intelligible  were  the  devices  of  the  quad 
ruped,  that  even  the  most  experienced  observer  would 
have  been  at  a  loss  to  account  for  its  actions,  until 
the  moment  when  the  party  entered  the  forest,  when  the  j 
whole  would  have  been  explained,  by  seeing  the  entire  j 
animal  issue  from  the  lodge,  uncasing,  by  the  act,  the! 
grave  features  of  Chingach^ook  from  his  mask  of  fur.] 


CHAPTER 
XXVIII.    & 


"Brief,  I  pray  you;  for  you  see,  'tis  a  busy  time  with  me." 

Mitch  Ado  About  Nothing. 


THE  tribe,  or  rather  half-tribe,  of  Delawares,  which 
has  been  so  often  mentioned,  and  whose  present 
place  of  encampment  was  so  nigh  the  temporary  village 
of  the  Hurons,  could  assemble  about  an  equal  number 
of  warriors  with  the  latter  people.  Like  their  neigh 
bors,  they  had  followed  Montcalm  into  the  territories 
of  the  English  crown,  and  were  making  heavy  and  seri 
ous  inroads  on  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Mohawks; 
though  they  had  seen  fit,  with  the  mysterious  reserve  so 
common  among  the  natives,  to  withhold  their  assistance 
at  the  moment  when  it  was  most  required.  The  French 
had  accounted  for  this  unexpected  defection  on  the  part 
of  their  ally  in  various 'ways.  It  was  the  prevalent  opin 
ion,  however,  that  they  had  been  influenced  by  veneration 
for  the  ancient  treaty,  that  had  once  made  them  depend 
ent  on  the  Six  Nations  for  military  protection,  and  now 
rendered  them  reluctant  to  encounter  their  former  mas 
ters.  As  for  the  tribe  itself,  it  had  been  content  to 

425 


426  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

announce  to  Montcalm,  through  his  emissaries,  with  In 
dian  brevity,  that  their  hatchets  were  dull,  and  time  was 
necessary  to  sharpen  them.  The  politic  captain  of  the 
Canadas  had  deemed  it  wiser  to  submit  to  entertain  a 
passive  friend,  than  by  any  acts  of  ill-judged  severity  to 
convert  him  into  an  open  enemy. 

On  that  morning  when  Magua  led  his  silent  party  from 
the  settlement  of  the  beavers  into  the  forest,  in  the  man 
ner  described,  the  sun  rose  upon  the  Delaware  encamp 
ment  as  if  it  had  suddenly  burst  upon  a  busy  people, 
actively  employed  in  all  the  customary  avocations  of  high 
noon.  The  women  ran  from  lodge  to  lodge,  some  en 
gaged  in  preparing  their  morning's  meal,  a  few  earnestly 
bent  on  seeking  the  comforts  necessary  to  their  habits, 
but  more  pausing  to  exchange  hasty  and  whispered  sen 
tences  with  their  friends.  The  warriors  were  lounging 
in  groups,  musing  more  than  they  conversed ;  and  when 
a  few  words  were  uttered,  speaking  like  men  who  deeply 
weighed  their  opinions.  The  instruments  of  the  chase 
were  to  be  seen  in  abundance  among  the  lodges ;  but  none 
departed.  Here  and  there  a  warrior  was  examining  his 
arms,  with  an  attention  that  is  rarely  bestowed  on  the 
implements,  when  no  other  enemy  than  the  beasts  of 
the  forest  is  expected  to  be  encountered.  And,  occa 
sionally,  the  eyes  of  a  whole  group  were  turned  simul 
taneously  towards  a  large  and  silent  lodge  in  the  center 
of  the  village,  as  if  it  contained  the  subject  of  their  com 
mon  thoughts. 

During  the  existence  of  this  scene,  a  man  suddenly  ap 
peared  at  the  farthest  extremity  of  a  platform  of  rock 
which  formed  the  level  of  the  village.  He  was  without 
arms,  and  his  paint  tended  rather  to  soften  than  increase 
the  natural  sternness  of  his  austere  countenance.  When 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  427 

in  full  view  of  the  Delawares  he  stopped,  and  made  a 
gesture  of  amity,  by  throwing  his  arm  upward  towards 
heaven,  and  then  letting  it  fall  impressively  on  his  breast. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  village  answered  his  salute  by  a 
low  murmur  of  welcome,  and  encouraged  him  to  advance 
by  similar  indications  of  friendship.  Fortified  by  these 
assurances,  the  dark  figure  left  the  brow  of  the  natural 
rocky  terrace,  where  it  had  stood  a  moment,  drawn  in  a 
strong  outline  against  the  blushing  morning  sky,  and 
moved  with  dignity  into  the  very  center  of  the  huts.  As 
he  approached,  nothing  was  audible  but  the  rattling  of 
the  light  silver  ornaments  that  loaded  his  arms  and  neck, 
and  the  tinkling  of  the  little  bells  that  fringed  his  deer 
skin  moccasins.  He  made,  as  he  advanced,  many  cour 
teous  signs  of  greeting  to  the  men  he  passed,  neglecting 
to  notice  the  women,  however,  like  one  who  deemed  their 
favor,  in  the  present  enterprise,  of  no  importance.  When 
he  had  reached  the  group  in  which  it  was  evident,  by  the 
haughtiness  of  their  common  mien,  that  the^  principal 
chiefs  were  collected,  the  stranger  paused,  and  then  the 
Delawares  saw  that  the  active  and  erect  form  that  stood 
before  them  was  that  of  the  well-known  Huron  chief, 
Le  Renard  Subtil. 

His  reception  was  grave,  silent,  and  wary.  The  war 
riors  in  front  stepped  aside,  opening  the  way  to  their 
most  approved  orator  by  the  action;  one  who  spoke  all 
those  languages  that  were  cultivated  among  the  northern 
aborigines. 

"  The  wise  Huron  is  welcome,"  said  the  Delaware,  in 
the  language  of  the  Maquas;  "  he  is  come  to  eat  his 
'  succotash,'  *  with  his  brothers  of  the  lakes." 

1 A  dish  composed  of  cracked  corn  and  beans.  It  is  much  used 
also  by  the  whites.  By  corn  is  meant  maize. 


428  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  He  is  come,"  repeated  Magua,  bending  his  head  with 
the  dignity  of  an  Eastern  prince. 

The  chief  extended  his  arm,  and  taking  the  other  by 
the  wrist,  they  once  more  exchanged  friendly. salutations. 
Then  the  Delaware  invited  his  guest  to  enter  his  own 
lodge,  and  share  his  morning  meal.  The  invitation  was 
accepted;  and  the  two  warriors,  attended  by  three  or 
four  of  the  old  men,  walked  calmly  away,  leaving  the 
rest  of  the  tribe  devoured  by  a  desire  to  understand  the 
reasons  of  so  unusual  a  visit,  and  yet  not  betraying  the 
least  impatience  by  sign  or  word. 

During  the  short  and  frugal  repast  that  followed,  the 
conversation  was  extremely  circumspect,  and  related  en 
tirely  to  the  events  of  the  hunt  in  which  Magua  had  so 
lately  been  engaged.  It  would  have  been  impossible  for 
the  most  finished  breeding  to  wear  more  of  the  appearance 
of  considering  the  visit  as  a  matter  of  course,  than  did 
his  hosts,  notwithstanding  every  individual  present  was 
perfectly  aware  that  it  must  be  connected  with  some 
secret  object,  and  that  probably  of  importance  to  them 
selves.  When  the  appetites  of  the  whole  were  appeased, 
the  squaws  removed  the  trenchers  and  gourd,  and  the 
two  parties  began  to  prepare  themselves  for  a  subtle  trial 
of  their  wits. 

"  Is  the  face  of  my  great  Canada  father  turned  again 
towards  his  Huron  children  ?  "  demanded  the  orator  of 
the  Delawares. 

"  When  was  it  ever  otherwise?"  returned  Magua. 
"  He  calls  my  people  '  most  beloved.' ' 

The  Delaware  gravely  bowed  his  acquiescence  to  what 
he  knew  to  be  false,  and  continued, — 

"  The  tomahawks  of  your  young  men  have  been  very 
red." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  429 

"  It  is  so ;  but  they  are  now  bright  and  dull ;  for  the 
Yengeese  are  dead,  and  the  Delawares  are  our 
neighbors." 

The  other  acknowledged  the  pacific  compliment  by  a 
gesture  of  the  hand,  and  remained  silent.  Then  Magua, 
as  if  recalled  to  such  a  recollection,  by  the  allusion  to 
the  massacre,  demanded, — 

"  Does  my  prisoner  give  trouble  to  my  brothers  ?  " 

"  She  is  welcome." 

"  The  path  between  the  Hurons  and  the  Delawares  is 
short,  and  it  is  open;  let  her  be  sent  to  my  squaws,  if 
she  gives  trouble  to  my  brother." 

"  She  is  welcome,"  returned  the  chief  of  the  latter  na 
tion,  still  more  emphatically. 

The  baffled  Magua  continued  silent  several'  minutes, 
apparently  indifferent,  however,  to  the  repulse  he  had 
received  in  this  his  open  effort  to  gain  possession  of 
Cora. 

"  Do  my  young  men  leave  the  Delawares  room  on  the 
mountains  for  their  hunts  ?  "  he  at  length  continued. 

"  The  Lenape  are  rulers  of  their  own  hills,"  returned 
the  other,  a  little  haughtily. 

"  It  is  well.  Justice  is  the  master  of  a  redskin !  Why 
should  they  brighten  their  tomahawks,  and  sharpen  their 
knives  against  each  other  ?  Are  not  the  pale- faces  thicker 
than  the  swallows  in  the  season  of  flowers  ?  " 

"  Good !  "  exclaimed  two  or  three  of  his  auditors  at 
the  same  time. 

Magua  waited  a  little,  to  permit  his  words  to  soften 
the  feelings  of  the  Delawares,  before  he  added,— 

"  Have  there  not  been  strange  moccasins  in  the 
woods  ?  Have  not  my  brothers  scented  the  feet  of  white 
men?" 


430  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Let  my  Canada  father  come,"  returned  the  other 
evasively ;  "  his  children  are  ready  to  see  him." 

"  When  the  great  chief  comes,  it  is  to  smoke  with  the 
Indians  in  their  wigwams.  The  Hurons  say,  too,  he  is 
welcome.  But  the  Yengeese  have  long  arms,  and  legs 
that  never  tire !  My  young  men  dreamed  they  had  seen 
the  trail  of  the  Yengeese  nigh  the  village  of  the 
Delawares  ?  " 

'  They  will  not  find  the  Lenape  asleep." 

"  It  is  well.  The  warrior  whose  eye  is  open  can  see 
his  enemy,"  said  Magua,  once  more  shifting  his  ground, 
when  he  found  himself  unable  to  penetrate  the  caution 
of  his  companion.  "  I  have  brought  gifts  to  my  brother. 
His  nation  would  not  go  on  the  warpath  because  they  did 
not  think  it  well ;  but  their  friends  have  remembered 
where  they  lived." 

When  he  had  thus  announced  his  liberal  intention,  the 
crafty  chief  arose,  and  gravely  spread  his  presents  be 
fore  the  dazzled  eyes  of  his  hosts.  They  consisted  prin 
cipally  of  trinkets  of  little  value,  plundered  from  the 
slaughtered  females  of  William  Henry.  In  the  division 
of  the  baubles  the  cunning  Huron  discovered  no  less  art 
than  in  their  selection.  While  he  bestowed  those  of 
greater  value  on  the  two  most  distinguished  warriors, 
one  of  whom  was  his  host,  he  seasoned  his  offerings  to 
their  inferiors  with  such  well-timed  and  apposite  com 
pliments,  as  left  them  no  grounds  of  complaint.  In 
short,  the  whole  ceremony  contained  such  a  happy  blend 
ing  of  the  profitable  with  the  flattering,  that  it  was  not 
difficult  for  the  donor  immediately  to  read  the  effect  of 
a  generosity  so  aptly  mingled  with  praise,  in  the  eyes  of 
those  he  addressed. 

This   well-judged   and   politic   stroke   on   the   part   of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  431 

Magua  was  not  without  instantaneous  results.  The  Dela- 
wares  lost  their  gravity  in  a  much  more  cordial  expres 
sion;  and  the  host,  in  particular,  after  contemplating 
his  own  liberal  share  of  the  spoil  for  some  moments  with 
peculiar  gratification,  repeated  with  strong  emphasis,  the 
words, — 

"  My  brother  is  a  wise  chief.     He  is  welcome !  " 

"  The  Hurons  love  their  friends  the  Delawares,"  re 
turned  Magua.  "  Why  should  they  not  ?  they  are  colored 
by  the  same  sun,  and  their  just  men  will  hunt  in  the 
same  grounds  after  death.  The  redskins  should  be 
friends,  and  look  with  open  eyes  on  the  white  men.  Has 
not  my  brother  scented  spies  in  the  woods  ?  " 

The  Delaware,  whose  name  in  English  signified 
"  Hard  Heart,"  an  appellation  that  the  French 
had  translated  into  "  Le  Cceur-dur,"  forgot  the  obdu 
racy  of  purpose,  which  had  probably  obtained  him 
so  significant  a  title.  His  countenance  grew  very  sensi 
bly  less  stern,  and  he  now  deigned  to  answer  more 
directly. 

"  There  have  been  strange  moccasins  about  my  camp. 
They  have  been  tracked  into  my  lodges." 

"  Did  my  brother  beat  out  the  dogs  ?  "  asked  Magua, 
without  adverting  in  any  manner  to  the  former  equivo 
cation  of  the  chief. 

"  It  would  not  do.  The  stranger  is  always  welcome 
to  the  children  of  the  Lenape." 

"  The  stranger,  but  not  the  spy." 

"  Would  the  Yengeese  send  their  women  as  spies  ? 
Did  not  the  Huron  chief  say  he  took  women  in  the 
battle?"  » 

"  He  told  no  lie.  The  Yengeese  have  sent  out  the> 
scouts.  They  have  been  in  my  wigwams,  but  they  founa 


432  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

there  no  one  to  say  welcome.  Then  they  fled  to  the 
Delawares — for,  say  they,  the  Delawares  are  our 
friends;  their  minds  are  turned  from  their  Canada- 
father  !" 

This  insinuation  was  a  home  thrust,  and  one  that  in 
a  more  advanced  state  of  society,  would  have  entitled 
Magua  to  the  reputation  of  a  skilful  diplomatist.  The 
recent  defection  of  the  tribe  had,  as  they  well  knew 
themselves,  subjected  the  Delawares  to  much  reproach 
among  their  French  allies ;  and  they  were  now  made  to 
feel  that  their  future  actions  were  to  be  regarded  with 
jealousy  and  distrust.  There  was  no  deep  insight  into 
causes  and  effects  necessary  to  foresee  that  such  a  situa 
tion  of  things  was  likely  to  prove  highly  prejudfcial  to> 
their  future  movements.  Their  distant  villages,  their 
hunting-grounds,  and  hundreds  of  their  women  and  chil 
dren,  together  with  a  material  part  of  their  physical 
force,  were  actually  within  the  limits  of  the  French  ter 
ritory.  Accordingly,  this  alarming  annunciation  was. 
received,  as  Magua  intended,  with  manifest  disapproba 
tion,  if  not  with  alarm. 

"  Let  my  father  look  in  my  face,"  said  Le  Cceur-dur ;; 
"  he  will  see  no  change.  It  is  true,  my  young  men  did 
not  go  out  on  the  warpath ;  they  had  dreams  for  not 
doing  so.  But  they  love  and  venerate  the  great  white 
chief." 

"  Will  he  think  so  when  he  hears  that  his  greatest 
enemy  is  fed  in  the  camp  of  his  children?  When  he  is 
told  a  bloody  Yengee  smokes  at  your  fire?  That  the 
pale-face  who  has  slain  so  many  of  his  friends  goes  in 
and  out  among  the  Delawares?  Go!  my  grjsat  Canada 
father  is  not  a  fool !  " 

"Where  is  the  Yengee  that  the  Delawares  fear?"  re- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  433 

turned  the  other ;  "  who  has  slain  my  young  men  ?  who  is 
the  mortal  enemy  of  my  Great  Father!" 

"  La  Longue  Carabine." 

The  Delaware  warriors  started  at  the  well-known 
name,  betraying,  by  their  amazement,  that  they  now 
learnt,  for  the  first  time,  one  so  famous  among  the  In 
dian  allies  of  France  was  within  their  power. 

"  What  does  my  brother  mean  ?  "  demanded  Le  Cceur- 
dur,  in  a  tone  that,  by  its  wonder,  far  exceeded  the  usual 
apathy  of  his  race. 

"  A  Huron  never  lies !  "  returned  Magua  coldly,  lean 
ing  his  head  against  the  side  of  the  lodge,  and  drawing 
his  slight  robe  across  his  tawny  breast.  "  Let  the  Dela- 
wares  count  their  prisoners;  they  will  find  one  whose 
skin  is  neither  red  nor  pale." 

A  long  and  musing  pause  succeeded.  The  chief  con 
sulted  apart  with  his  companions,  and  messengers  were 
despatched  to  collect  certain  others  of  the  most  distin 
guished  men  of  the  tribe. 

As  warrior  after  warrior  dropped  in,  they  were  each 
made  acquainted,  in  turn,  with  the  important  intelli 
gence  that  Magua  had  just  communicated.  The  air  of 
surprise,  and  the  usual  low,  deep,  guttural  exclamation, 
were  common  to  them  all.  The  news  spread  from  mouth 
to  mouth,  until  the  whole  encampment  became  power 
fully  agitated.  The  women  suspended  their  labors,  to 
catch  such  syllables  as  unguardedly  fell  from  the  lips 
of  the  consulting  warriors.  The  boys  deserted  their 
sports,  and  walking  fearlessly  among  their  fathers,  looked 
up  in  curious  admiration,  as  they  heard  the  brief  excla 
mations  of  wonder  they  so  freely  expressed  at  the 
temerity  of  their  hated  foe.  In  short,  every  occupation 
was  abandoned  for  the  time,  and  all  other  pursuits 


434  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

seemed  discarded,  in  order  that  the  tribe  might  freely 
indulge,  after  their  own  peculiar  manner,  in  an  open 
expression  of  feeling. 

When  the  excitement  had  a  little  abated,  the  old  men 
disposed  themselves  seriously  to  consider  that  which  it 
became  the  honor  and  safety  of  their  tribe  to  perform, 
under  circumstances  of  so  much  delicacy  and  embarrass 
ment.  During  all  these  movements,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  general  commotion,  Magua  had  not  only  maintained 
his  seat,  but  the  very  attitude  he  had  originally  taken, 
against  the  side  of  the  lodge,  where  he  continued  as 
immovable,  and,  apparently,  as  unconcerned,  as  if  he  had 
no  interest  in  the  result.  Not  a  single  indication  of  the 
future  intentions  of  his  hosts,  however,  escaped  his  vigi 
lant  eyes.  With  his  consummate  knowledge  of  the  na 
ture  of  the  people  with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  he  antici 
pated  every  measure  on  which  they  decided ;  and  it  might 
almost  be  said,  that,  in  many  instances,  he  knew  their 
intentions,  even  before  they  became  known  to  themselves. 

The  council  of  the  Delawares  was  short.  When  it  was 
ended,  a  general  bustle  announced  that  it  was  to  be  im 
mediately  succeeded  by  a  solemn  and  formal  assemblage 
of  the  nation.  As  such  meetings  were  rare,  and  only 
called  on  occasions  of  the  last  importance,  the  subtle 
Huron,  who  still  sat  apart,  a  wily  and  dark  observer  of 
the  proceedings,  now  knew  that  all  his  projects  must  be 
brought  to  their  final  issue.  He  therefore  left  the  lodge, 
and  walked  silently  forth  to  the  place  in  front  of  the 
encampment  whither  the  warriors  were  already  beginning 
to  collect. 

It  might  have  been  half  an  hour  before  each  individual, 
including  even  the  women  and  children,  was  in  his  place. 
The  delay  had  been  created  by  the  grave  preparations 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  435 

that  were  deemed  necessary  to  so  solemn  and  unusual 
a  conference.  But  when  the  sun  was  seen  climbing  above 
the  tops  of  that  mountain  against  whose  bosom  the  Dela- 
wares  had  constructed  their  encampment,  most  were 
seated;  and  as  his  bright  rays  darted  from  behind  the 
outline  of  trees  that  fringed  the  eminence,  they  fell  upon 
as  grave,  as  attentive,  and  as  deeply  interested  a  multi 
tude,  as  was  probably  ever  before  lighted  by  his  morn 
ing  beams.  Its  number  somewhat  exceeded  a  thousand 
souls. 

In  a  collection  of  such  serious  savages,  there  is  never 
to  be  found  any  impatient  aspirant  after  premature  dis 
tinction,  standing  ready  to  move  his  auditors  to  some 
hasty,  and,  perhaps,  injudicious  discussion,  in  order  that 
his  own  reputation  may  be  the  gainer.  An  act  of  so 
much  precipitancy  and  presumption  would  seal  the  down 
fall  of  precocious  intellect  forever.  It  rested  solely  with 
the  oldest  and  most  experienced  of  the  men  to  lay  the 
subject  of  the  conference  before  the  people.  Until  such 
a  one  chose  to  make  some  movement,  no  deeds  in  arms, 
no  natural  gifts,  nor  any  renown  as  an  orator,  would 
have  justified  the  slightest  interruption.  On  the  present 
occasion,  the  aged  warrior  whose  privilege  it  was  to 
speak,  was  silent,  seemingly  oppressed  with  the  magni 
tude  of  his  subject.  The  delay  had  already  continued 
long  beyond  the  usual  deliberative  pause  that  always  pre 
cedes  a  conference;  but  no  sign  of  impatience  or  surprise 
escaped  even  the  youngest  boy.  Occasionally,  an  eye  was 
raised  from  the  earth,  where  the  looks  of  most  were 
riveted,  and  strayed  towards  .a  particular  lodge,  that  was, 
however,  in  no  manner  distinguished  from  those  around 
it,  except  in  the  peculiar  care  that  had  been  taken  to 
protect  it  against  the  assaults  of  the  weather. 


436  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

At  length,  one  of  those  low  murmurs  that  are  so  apt 
to  disturb  a  multitude,  was  heard,  and  the  whole  nation 
arose  to  their  feet  by  a  common  impulse.  At  that  the 
door  of  the  lodge  in  question  opened,  and  three  men, 
issuing  from  it,  slowly  approached  the  place  of  consulta 
tion.  They  were  all  aged,  even  beyond  that  period  to 
which  the  oldest  present  had  reached;  but  one  in  the 
center,  who  leaned  on  his  companions  for  support,  had 
numbered  an  amount  of  years  to  which  the  human  race 
is  seldom  permitted  to  attain.  His  frame,  which  had 
once  been  tall  and  erect,  like  the  cedar,  was  now  bend 
ing  under  the  pressure  of  more  than  a  century.  The 
elastic,  light  step  of  an  Indian  was  gone,  and  in  its  place 
he  was  compelled  to  toil  his  tardy  way  over  the  ground, 
inch  by  inch.  His  dark,  wrinkled  countenance  was  in 
singular  and  wild  contrast  with  the  long  white  locks 
which  floated  on  his  shoulders  in  such  thickness  as  to 
announce  that  generations  had  probably  passed  away 
since  they  had  last  been  shorn. 

The  dress  of  this  patriarch — for  such,  considering  his 
vast  age,  in  conjunction  with  his  affinity  and  influence 
with  his  people,  he  might  very  properly  be  termed — was 
rich  and  imposing,  though  strictly  after  the  simple  fash 
ions  of  the  tribe.  His  robe  was  of  the  finest  skins,  which 
had  been  deprived  of  their  fur,  in  order  to  admit  of  a 
hieroglyphical  representation  of  various  deeds  in  arms, 
done  in  former  ages.  His  bosom  was  loaded  with 
medals,  some  in  massive  silver,  and  one  or  two  even  in 
gold,  the  gifts  of  various  Christian  potentates  during  the 
long  period  of  his  life.  He  also  wore  armlets,  and  cinc 
tures  above  the  ankles,  of  the  latter  precious  metal.  His 
head,  on  the  whole  of  which  the  hair  had  been  permit 
ted  to  grow,  the  pursuits  of  war  having  so  long  been 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  437 

abandoned,  was-  encircled  by  a  sort  of  plated  diadem, 
which,  in  its  turn,  bore  lesser  and  more  glittering  orna 
ments,  that  sparkled  amid  the  glossy  hues  of  three  droop 
ing  ostrich  feathers,  dyed  a  deep  black,  in  touching  con 
trast  to  the  color  of  his  snow-white  locks.  His  toma 
hawk  was  nearly  hid  in  silver,  and  the  handle  of  his 
knife  shone  like  a  horn  of  solid  gold. 

So  soon  as  the  first  hum  of  emotion  and  pleasure, 
which  the  sudden  appearance  of  this  venerated  individual 
created,  had  a  little  subsided,  the  name  of  "  Tamenund  " 
wa"s  whispered  from  mouth  to  mouth.  Magua  had  often 
heard  the  fame  of  this  wise  and  just  Delaware;  a  repu 
tation  that  even  proceeded  so  far  as  to  bestow  on  him 
the  rare  gift  of  holding  secret  communion  with  the  Great 
Spirit,  and  which  has  since  transmitted  his  name,  with 
some  slight  alteration,  to  the  white  usurpers  of  his  an 
cient  territory,  as  the  imaginary  tutelar  saint  of  a  vast 
empire.  The  Huron  chief,  therefore,  stepped  eagerly  out 
a  little  from  the  throng,  to  a  spot  whence  he  might  catch 
a  nearer  glimpse  of  the  features  of  the  man,  whose  deci 
sion  was  likely  to  produce  so  deep  an  influence  on  his  own 
fortunes. 

The  eyes  of  the  old  man  were  closed,  as  though  the 
organs  were  wearied  with  having  so  long  witnessed  the 
selfish  workings  of  the  human  passions.  The  color  of 
his  skin  differed  from  that  of  most  around  him,  being 
richer  and  darker,  the  latter  hue  having  been  produced 
by  certain  delicate  and  mazy  lines  of  complicated  and 
yet  beautiful  figures,  which  had  been  traced  over  most 
of  his  person  by  the  operation  of  tattooing.  Notwith 
standing  the  position  of  the  Huron,  he  passed  the  ob 
servant  and  silent  Magua  without  notice,  and  leaning  on 
his  two  venerable  supporters  proceeded  to  the  high  place 


438  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

of  the  multitude,  where  he  seated  himself  in  the  center 
of  his  nation,  with  the  dignity  of  a  monarch  and  the  air 
of  a  father. 

Nothing  could  surpass  the  reverence  and  affection  with 
which  this  unexpected  visit  from  one  who  belonged  rather 
to  another  world  than  to  this,  was  received  by  his  people. 
After  a  suitable  and  decent  pause,  the  principal  chiefs 
arose;  and  approaching  the  patriarch,  they  placed  his 
hands  reverently  on  their  heads,  seeming  to  entreat  a 
blessing.  The  younger  men  were  content  with  touching 
his  robe,  or  even  drawing  nigh  his  person,  in  order  to 
breathe  in  the  atmosphere  of  one  so  aged,  so  just,  and 
so  valiant.  None  but  the  most  distinguished  among  the 
youthful  warriors  even  presumed  so  far  as  to  perform 
the  latter  ceremony ;  the  great  mass  of  the  multitude 
deeming  it  a  sufficient  happiness  to  look  upon  a  form  so 
deeply  venerated,  and  so  well  beloved.  When  these  acts 
of  affection  and  respect  were  performed,  the  chiefs  drew 
back  again  to  their  several  places,  and  silence  reigned  in 
the  whole  encampment. 

After  a  short  delay,  a  few  of  the  young  men,  to  whom 
instructions  had  been  whispered  by  one  of  the  aged  at 
tendants  of  Tamenund,  arose,  left  the  crowd,  and  en 
tered  the  lodge  which  has  already  been  noted  as  the 
object  of  so  much  attention  throughout  that  morning. 
In  a  few  minutes  they  reappeared,  escorting  the  indi 
viduals  who  had  caused  all  these  solemn  preparations 
towards  the  seat  of  judgment.  The  crowd  opened  in  a 
lane;  and  when  the  party  had  re-entered,  it  closed  in 
again,  forming  a  large  and  dense  belt  of  human  bodies, 
arranged  in  an  open  circle. 


CHAPTER 
XXIX.  £  £ 


"The  assembly  seated,  rising  o'er  the   rest, 
Achilles  thus  the  king  of  men  addressed." 

POPE'S  Iliad. 

CORA  stood  foremost  among  the  prisoners,  entwin 
ing  her  arms  in  those  of  Alice,  in  the  tenderness 
of  sisterly  love.  Notwithstanding  the  fearful  and  men 
acing  array  of  savages  on  every  side  of  her,  no  appre 
hension  on  her  own  account  could  prevent  the  noble- 
minded  maiden  from  keeping  her  eyes  fastened  on  the 
pale  and  anxious  features  of  the  trembling  Alice.  Close 
at  their  side  stood  Heyward,  with  an  interest  in  both, 
that,  at  such  a  moment  of  intense  uncertainty,  scarcely 
knew  a  preponderance  in  favor  of  her  whom  he  most 
loved.  Hawkeye  had  placed  himself  a  little  in  the  rear, 
with  a  deference  to  the  superior  rank  of  his  companions, 
that  no  similarity  in  the  state  of  their  present  fortunes 
could  induce  him  to  forget.  Uncas  was  not  there. 

When  perfect  silence  was  again  restored,  and  after 
the  usual  long,  impressive  pause,  one  of  the  two  aged 
chiefs  who  sat  at  the  side  of  the  patriarch  arose,  and 
demanded  aloud,  in  very  intelligible  English, — 

439 


44°  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Which  of  my  prisoners  is  La  Longue  Carabine?  " 

Neither  Duncan  nor  the  scout  answered.  The  former, 
however,  glanced  his  eyes  around  the  dark  and  silent 
assembly,  and  recoiled  a  pace,  when  they  fell  on  the 
malignant  visage  of  Magua.  He  saw,  at  once,  that  this 
wily  savage  had  some  secret  agency  in  their  present  ar 
raignment  before  the  nation,  and  determined  to  throw 
every  possible  impediment  in  the  way  of  the  execution 
of  his  sinister  plans.  He  had  witnessed  one  instance  of 
the  summary  punishments  of  the  Indians,  and  now 
dreaded  that  his  companion  was  to  be  selected  for  a 
second.  In  this  dilemma,  with  little  or  no  time  for 
reflection,  he  suddenly  determined  to  cloak  his  invalu 
able  friend,  at  any  or  every  hazard  to  himself.  Before 
he  had  time,  however,  to  speak,  the  question  was  repeated 
in  a  louder  voice,  and  with  a  clearer  utterance. 

"  Give  us  arms,"  the  young  man  haughtily  replied, 
"  and  place  us  in  yonder  woods.  Our  deeds  shall  speak 
for  us!" 

'''  This  is  the  warrior  whose  name  has  filled  our  ears !  " 
returned  the  chief,  regarding  Heyward  with  that  sort  of 
curious  interest  which  seems  inseparable  from  man,  when 
first  beholding  one  of  his  fellows  to  whom  merit  or  acci 
dent,  virtue  or  crime,  has  given  notoriety.  "  What  has 
brought  the  white  man  into  the  camp  of  the  Delawares  ?  " 

"  My  necessities.  I  come  for  food,  shelter,  and 
friends." 

"  It  cannot  be.  The  woods  are  full  of  game.  The  head 
of  a  warrior  needs  no  other  shelter  than  a  sky  without 
clouds ;  and  the  Delawares  are  the  enemies,  and  not  the 
friends,  of  the  Yengeese.  Go !  the  mouth  has  spoken, 
while  the  heart  said  nothing." 

Duncan,  a  little  at  a  loss  in  what  manner  to  proceed, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  441 

remained  silent;  but  the  scout,  who  had  listened  atten 
tively  to  all  that  passed,  now  advanced  steadily  to  the 
front. 

"  That  I  did  not  answer  to  the  call  for  La  Longue 
Carabine,  was  not  owing  either  to  shame  or  fear,"  he 
said ;  "  for  neither  one  nor  the  other  is  the  gift  of  an 
honest  man.  But  I  do  not  admit  the  right  of  the  Mingos 
to  bestow  a  name  on  one  whose  friends  have  been  mind 
ful  of  his  gifts,  in  this  particular ;  especially  as  their  title 
is  a  lie,  '  Killdeer '  being  a  grooved  barrel  and  no 
carabvne.  I  am  the  man,  however,  that  got  the  name 
of  Nathaniel  from  my  kin;  the  compliment  of  Hawkeye 
from  the  Delawares,  who  live  on  their  own  river;  and 
whom  the  Iroquois  have  presumed  to  style  the  '  Long 
Rifle,'  without  any  warranty  from  him  who  is  most  con 
cerned  in  the  matter." 

The  eyes  of  all  present,  which  had  hitherto  been 
gravely  scanning  the  person  of  Duncan,  were  now 
turned,  on  the  instant,  toward  the  upright  iron  frame  of 
this  new  pretender  to  the  distinguished  appellation.  It 
was  in  no  degree  remarkable  that  there  should  be  found 
two  who  were  willing  to  claim  so  great  an  honor,  for 
impostors,  though  rare,  were  not  unknown  amongst  the 
natives;  but  it  was  altogether  material  to  the  just  and 
severe  intentions  of  the  Delawares,  that  there  should  be 
no  mistake  in  the  matter.  Some  of  their  old  men  con 
sulted  together  in  private,  and  then,  as  it  would  seem, 
they'  determined  to  interrogate  their  visitor  on  the 
subject. 

"  My  brother  has  said  that  a  snake  crept  into  my 
camp,"  said  the  chief  to  Magua;  "which  is  he?" 

The  Huron  pointed  to  the  scout. 

"  Will  a  wise  Delaware  believe  the  barking  of  a  wolf?  " 


442  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

exclaimed  Duncan,  still  more  confirmed  in  the  evil  inten 
tions  of  his  ancient  enemy :  "  a  dog  never  lies,  but  when 
was  a  wolf  known  to  speak  the  truth  ?  " 

The  eyes  of  Magua  flashed  fire;  but,  suddenly  recol 
lecting  the  necessity  of  maintaining  his  presence  of  mind, 
he  turned  away  in  silent  disdain,  well  assured  that  the 
sagacity  of  the  Indians  would  not  fail  to  extract  the 
real  merits  of  the  point  in  controversy.  He  was  not 
deceived;  for,  after  another  short  consultation,  the  wary 
Delaware  turned  to  him  again,  and  expressed  the  deter 
mination  of  the  chiefs,  though  in  the  most  considerate 
language. 

"  My  brother  has  been  called  a  liar,"  he  said,  "  and  his 
friends  are  angry.  They  will  show  that  he  has  spoken 
the  truth.  Give  my  prisoners  guns,  and  let  them  prove 
which  is  the  man." 

Magua  affected  to  consider  the  expedient,  which  he 
well  knew  proceeded  from  distrust  of  himself,  as  a  com 
pliment,  and  made  a  gesture  of  acquiescence,  well  con 
tent  that  his  veracity  should  be  supported  by  so  skilful 
a  marksman  as  the  scout.  The  weapons  were  instantly 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  friendly  opponents,  and  they 
were  bid  to  fire  over  the  heads  of  the  seated  multitude 
at  an  earthen  vessel,  which  lay,  by  accident,  on  a  stump 
some  fifty  yards  from  the  place  where  they  stood. 

Heyward  smiled  to  himself  at  the  idea  of  a  competi 
tion  with  the  scout,  though  he  determined  to  persevere 
in  the  deception,  until  apprised  of  the  real  designs  of 
Magua.  Raising  his  rifle  with  the  utmost  care,  and 
renewing  his  aim  three  several  times,  he  fired.  The 
bullet  cut  the  wood  within  a  few  inches  of  the  vessel ;  and 
a  general  exclamation  of  satisfaction  announced  that  the 
shot  was  considered  a  proof  of  great  skill  in  the  use 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  443 

of  the  weapon.  Even  Hawkeye  nodded  his  head,  as  if 
he  would  say,  it  was  better  than  he  had  expected.  But, 
instead  of  manifesting  an  intention  to  contend  with  the 
successful  marksman,  he  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle  for 
more  than  a  minute,  like  a  man  who  was  completely 
buried  in  thought.  From  this  reverie  he  was,  however, 
awakened  by  one  of  the  young 'Indians  who  had  fur 
nished  the  arms,  and  who  now  touched  his  shoulder, 
saying,  in  exceedingly  broken  English, — 

"  Can  the  pale- face  beat  it?" 

"  Yes,  Huron !  "  exclaimed  the  scout,  raising  the  short 
rifle  in  his  right  hand,  and  shaking  it  at  Magua,  with 
as  much  apparent  ease  as  if  it  were  a  reed ;  "  yes,  Huron, 
I  could  strike  you  now,  and  no  power  of  earth  could 
prevent  the  deed !  The  soaring  hawk  is  not  more  certain 
of  the  dove  than  I  am  this  moment  of  you,  did  I  choose 
to  send  a  bullet  to  your  heart!  Why  should  I  not? 
Why! — because  the  gifts  of  my  color  forbid  it,  and  I 
might  draw  down  evil  on  tender  and  innocent  heads. 
If  you  know  such  a  being  as  God,  thank  Him,  therefore, 
in  your  inward  soul ;  for  you  have  reason." 

The  flushed  countenance,  angry  eye,  and  swelling 
figure  of  the  scout,  produced  a  sensation  of  secret  awe 
in  all  that  heard  him.  The  Delawares  held  their  breath 
in  expectation;  but  Magua  himself,  even  while  he  dis 
trusted  the  forbearance  of  his  enemy,  remained  immov 
able  and  calm,  where  he  stood  wedged  in  by  the  crowd,  as 
one  who  grew  to  the  spot. 

"  Beat  it,"  replied  the  young  Delaware  at  the  elbow 
of  the  scout. 

"  Beat  what,  fool  ? — what  ?  "  exclaimed  Hawkeye,  still 
flourishing  the  weapon  angrily  above  his  head,  though 
his  eye  no  longer  sought  the  person  of  Magua. 


444  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  If  the  white  man  is  the  warrior  he  pretends," 
said  the  aged  chief,  "  let  him  strike  nigher  to  the 
mark." 

The  scout  laughed  aloud — a  noise  that  produced  the 
startling  effect  of  an  unnatural  sound  on  Hey  ward ;  then 
dropping  the  piece  heavily  into  his  extended  left  hand, 
it  was  discharged,  apparently  by  the  shock,  driving  the 
fragments  of  the  vessel  into  the  air,  and  scattering  them 
on  every  side.  Almost  at  the  same  instant,  the  rattling 
sound  of  the  rifle  was  heard,  as  he  suffered  it  to  fall, 
contemptuously,  to  the  earth. 

The  first  impression  of  so  strange  a  scene  was  engross 
ing  admiration.  Then  a  low,  but  increasing  murmur,  ran 
through  the  multitude,  and  finally  swelled  into  sounds 
that  denoted  a  lively  opposition  in  the  sentiments  of  the 
spectators.  While  some  openly  testified  their  satisfac 
tion  at  so  unexampled  dexterity,  by  far  the  larger  por 
tion  of  the  tribe  were  inclined  to  believe  the  success  of 
the  shot  was  the  result  of  accident.  Heyward  was  not 
slow  to  confirm  an  opinion  that  was  so  favorable  to  his 
own  pretensions. 

"  It  was  chance !  "  he  exclaimed ;  u  none  can  shoot  with 
out  an  aim !  " 

"  Chance !  "  echoed  the  excited  woodsman,  who  was 
now  stubbornly  bent  on  maintaining  his  identity  at  every 
hazard,  and  on  whom  the  secret  hints  of  Heyward  to 
acquiesce  in  the  deception  were  entirely  lost.  "  Does 
yonder  lying  Huron,  too,  think  it  chance?  Give  him  an 
other  gun,  and  place  us  face  to  face,  without  cover  or 
dodge,  and  let  Providence,  and  our  own  eyes,  decide  the 
matter  atween  us !  I  do  not  make  the  offer  to  you, 
Major;  for  our  blood  is  of  a  color,  and  we  serve  the 
same  master." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  445 

"  That  the  Huron  is  a  liar,  is  very  evident,"  returned 
Heyward,  coolly ;  "  you  have  yourself  heard  him  assert 
you  to  be  La  Longue  Carabine." 

It  were  impossible  to  say  what  violent  assertion  the 
stubborn  Hawkeye  would  have  next  made,  in  his  head 
long  wish  to  vindicate  his  identity,  had  not  the  aged 
Delaware  once  more  interposed. 

"  The  hawk  which  comes  from  the  clouds  can  return 
when  he  will,"  he  said ;  "  give  them  the  guns." 

This  time  the  scout  seized  the  rifle  with  avidity;  nor 
had  Magua,  though  he  watched  the  movement  of  the 
marksman  with  jealous  eyes,  any  further  cause  for 
apprehension. 

"  Now  let  it  be  proved,  in  the  face  of  this  tribe  of 
Delawares,  which  is  the  better  man,"  cried  the  scout, 
tapping  the  butt  of  his  piece  with  that  finger  which  had 
pulled  so  many  fatal  triggers.  "  You  see  the  gourd 
hanging  against  yonder  tree,  Major;  if  you  are  a 
marksman  fit  for  the  borders,  let  me  see  you  break  its 
shell !  " 

Duncan  noted  the  object,  and  prepared  himself  to  re 
new  the  trial.  The  gourd  was  one  of  the  usual  little  ves 
sels  used  by  the  Indians,  and  it  was  suspended  from  a 
dead  branch  of  a  small  pine,  by  a  thong  of  deer-skin,  at 
the  full  distance  of  a  hundred  yards.  So  strangely  com 
pounded  is  the  feeling  of  self-love,  that  the  young  sol 
dier,  while  he  knew  the  utter  worthlessness  of  the  suf 
frages  of  his  savage  umpires,  forgot  the  sudden  motives 
of  the  contest  in  a  wish  to  excel.  It  has  been  seen,  al 
ready,  that  his  skill  was  far  from  being  contemptible,  and 
he  now  resolved  to  put  forth  its  nicest  qualities.  Had 
his  life  depended  on  the  issue,  the  aim  of  Duncan  could 
not  have  been  more  deliberate  or  guarded.  He  fired; 


446  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

and  three  or  four  young  Indians,  who  sprang  forward  at 
the  report,  announced  with  a  shout,  that  the  ball  was  in 
the  tree,  a  very  little  on  one  side  of  the  proper  object. 
The  warriors  uttered  a  common  ejaculation  of  pleasure, 
and  then  turned  their  eyes  inquiringly  on  the  movements 
of  his  rival. 

"  It  may  do  for  the  Royal  Americans !  "  said  Hawk- 
eye,  laughing  once  more  in  his  own  silent,  heartfelt  man 
ner  ;  "  but  had  my  gun  often  turned  so  much  from  the 
true  line,  many  a  marten,  whose  skin  is  now  in  a  lady's 
muff,  would  still  be  in  the  woods ;  aye,  and  many  a  bloody 
Mingo,  who  has  departed  to  his  final  account,  would  be 
acting  his  deviltries  at  this  very  day,  atween  the  prov 
inces.  I.  hope  the  squaw  who  owns  the  gourd  has  more 
of  them  in  her  wigwam,  for  this  will  never  hold  water 
again !  " 

The  scout  had  shook  his  priming,  and  cocked  his  piece, 
while  speaking;  and,  as  he  ended,  he  threw  back  a  foot, 
and  slowly  raised  the  muzzle  from  the  earth :  the  motion 
was  steady,  uniform,  and  in  one  direction.  When  on 
a  perfect  level,  it  remained  for  a  single  moment,  without 
tremor  or  Variation,  as  though  both  man  and  rifle  were 
carved  in  stone.  During  that  stationary  instant,  it 
poured  forth  its  contents,  in  a  bright,  glancing  sheet 
of  flame.  Again  the  young  Indians  bounded  forward; 
but  their  hurried  search  and  disappointed  looks  an 
nounced  that  no  traces  of  the  bullet  were  to  be 
seen. 

"  Go !  "  said  the  old  chief  to  the  scout,  in  a  tone  of 
strong  disgust;  "  thou  art  a  wolf  in  the  skin  of  a  dog. 
I  will  talk  to  the  '  Long  Rifle  '  of  the  Yengeese." 

"  Ah !  had  I  that  piece  which  furnished  the  name  you 
use,  I  would  obligate  myself  to  cut  the  thong,  and  drop 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  .    447 

the  gourd  without  breaking  it !  "  returned  Hawkeye,  per 
fectly  undisturbed  by  the  other's  manner.  "  Fools,  if 
you  would  find  the  bullet  of  a  sharpshooter  of  these 
woods,  you  must  look  in  the  object  and  not  around 
it!" 

The  Indian  youths  instantly  comprehended  his  mean 
ing — for  this  time  he  spoke  in  the  Delaware  tongue — 
and  tearing  the  gourd  from  the  tree,  they  held  it  on  high 
with  an  exulting  shout,  displaying  a  hole  in  its  bottom, 
which  had  been  cut  by  the  bullet,  after  passing  through 
the  usual  orifice  in  the  center  of  its  upper  side.  At 
this  unexpected  exhibition,  a  loud  and  vehement  expres 
sion  of  pleasure  burst  from  the  mouth  of  every  warrior 
present.  It  decided  the  question,  and  effectually  estab 
lished  Hawkeye  in  the  possession  of  his  dangerous  repu 
tation.  Those  curious  and  admiring  eyes  which  had  been 
turned  again  on  Heyward,  were  finally  directed  to  the 
weather-beaten  form  of  the  scout,  who  immediately  be 
came  the  principal  object  of  attention  to  the  simple  and 
unsophisticated  beings  by  whom  he  was  surrounded. 
When  the  sudden  and  noisy  commotion  had  a  little  sub 
sided,  the  aged  chief  resumed  his  examination. 

"  V/hy  did  you  wish  to  stop  my  ears?"  he  said, 
addressing  Duncan ;  "  are  the  Delawares  fools,  that 
they  could  not  know  the  young  panther  from  the 
cat?" 

"  They  will  yet  find  the  Huron  a  singing-bird,"  said 
Duncan,  endeavoring  to  adopt  the  figurative  language  of 
the  natives. 

"  It  is  good.  We  will  know  who  can  shut  the  ears 
of  men.  Brother,"  added  the  chief,  turning  his  eyes  on 
Magua,  "  the  Delawares  listen." 

Thus  singled,  and  directly  called  on  to  declare  his  ob- 


448  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

ject,  the  Huron  arose ;  and  advancing  with  great  delib 
eration  and  dignity  into  the  very  center  of  the  circle, 
where  he  stood  confronted  to  the  prisoners,  he  placed 
himself  in  an  attitude  to  speak.  Before  opening  his 
mouth,  however,  he  bent  his  eyes  slowly  along  the  whole 
living  boundary  of  earnest  faces,  as  if  to  temper  his  ex 
pressions  to  the  capacities  of  his  audience.  On  Hawkeye 
he  cast  a  glance  of  respectful  enmity ;  on  Duncan,  a  look 
of  inextinguishable  hatred ;  the  shrinking  figure  of  Alice 
he  scarcely  deigned  to  notice ;  but  when  his  glance  met 
the  firm,  commanding,  and  yet  lovely  form  of  Cora,  his 
eye  lingered  a  moment,  with  an  expression  that  it  might 
have  been  difficult  to  define.  Then,  filled  with  his  own 
dark  intentions,  he  spoke  in  the  language  of  the  Canadas, 
a  tongue  that  he  well  knew  was  comprehended  by  most 
of  his  auditors. 

"  The  Spirit  that  made  men  colored  them  differently," 
commenced  the  subtle  Huron.  "  Some  are  blacker  than 
the  sluggish  bear.  These  He  said  would  be  slaves;  and 
He  ordered  them  to  work  forever,  like  the  beaver.  You 
may  hear  them  groan,  when  the  south  wind  blows,  louder 
than  the  lowing  buffaloes,  along  the  shores  of  the  great 
salt  lake,  where  the  big  canoes  come  and  go  with  them 
in  droves.  Some  He  made  with  faces  paler  than  the 
ermine  of  the  forests :  and  these  He  ordered  to  be  trad 
ers;  dogs  to  their  women,  and  wolves  to  their  slaves. 
He  gave  this  people  the  nature  of  the  pigeon :  wings  that 
never  tire ;  young,  more  plentiful  than  the  leaves  on  the 
trees,  and  appetites  to  devour  the  earth.  He  gave  them 
tongues  like  the  false  call  of  the  wild-cat;  hearts  like 
rabbits;  the  cunning  of  the  hog  (but  none  of  the  fox), 
and  arms  longer  than  the  legs  of  the  moose.  With  his 
tongue,  he  stops  the  ears  of  the  Indians ;  his  heart  teaches 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  449 

him  to  pay  warriors  to  fight  his  battles ;  his  cunning  tells 
him  how  to  get  together  the  goods  of  the  earth ;  and  his 
arms  inclose  the  land  from  the  shores  of  the  salt-water 
to  the  islands  of  the  great  lake.  His  gluttony  makes  him 
sick.  God  gave  him  enough,  and  yet  he  wants  all.  Such 
are  the  pale-faces. 

"  Some  the  Great  Spirit  made  with  skins  brighter  and 
redder  than  yonder  sun,"  continued  Magua,  pointing  im 
pressively  upwards  to  the  lurid  luminary,  which  was 
struggling  through  the  misty  atmosphere  of  the  horizon; 
"  and  these  did  He  fashion  to  His  own  mind.  He  gave 
them  this  island  as  He  had  made  it,  covered  with  trees, 
and  filled  with  game.  The  wind  made  their  clearings; 
the  sun  and  rains  ripened  their  fruits;  and  the  snows 
came  to  tell  them  to  be  thankful.  What  need  had  they 
of  roads  to  journey  by!  They  saw  through  the  hills! 
When  the  beavers  worked,  they  lay  in  the  shade,  and 
looked  on.  The  winds  cooled  them  in  summer;  in  win 
ter,  skins  kept  them  warm.  If  they  fought  among  them 
selves,  it  was  to  prove  that  they  were  men.  They  were 
brave;  they  were  just,  they  were  happy." 

Here  the  speaker  paused,  and  again  looked  around 
him,  to  discover  if  his  legend  had  touched  the  sympathies 
of  his  listeners.  He  met  everywhere  with  eyes  riveted 
on  his  own,  heads  erect,  and  nostrils  expanded,  as  if  each 
individual  present  felt  himself  able  and  willing,  singly, 
to  redress  the  wrongs  of  his  race. 

"If  the  Great  Spirit  gave  different  tongues  to  his  red 
children,"  he  continued,  in  a  low,  still  melancholy  voice, 
"  it  was  that  all  animals  might  understand  them.  Some 
He  placed  among  the  snows,  with  their  cousin  the  bear. 
Some  He  placed  near  the  setting  sun,  on  the  road  to  the 
happy  hunting-grounds.  Some  on  the  lands  around  the 


45°  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

great  fresh  waters ;  but  to  his  greatest  and  most  beloved, 
He  gave  the  sands  of  the  salt  lake.  Do  my  brothers 
know  the  name  of  this  favored  people  ?  " 

"  It  was  the  Lenape !  "  exclaimed  twenty  eager  voices, 
in  a  breath. 

"  It  was  the  Lenni  Lenape,"  returned  Magua,  affect 
ing  to  bend  his  head  in  reverence  to  their  former  great 
ness.  "  It  was  the  tribes  of  the  Lenape !  The  sun  rose 
from  water  that  was  salt,  and  set  in  water  that  was 
sweet,  and  never  hid  himself  from  their  eyes.  But  why 
should  I,  a  Huron  of  the  woods,  tell  a  wise  people  their 
own  traditions?  Why  remind  them  of  their  injuries; 
their  ancient  greatness;  their  deeds;  their  glory;  their 
happiness, — their  losses  ;  their  defeats ;  their  misery  ?  Is 
there  not  one  among  them  who  has  seen  it  all,  and  who 
knows  it  to  be  true?  I  have  done.  My  tongue  is  still, 
for  my  heart  is  of  lead.  I  listen." 

As  the  voice  of  the  speaker  suddenly  ceased,  every 
face  and  all  eyes  turned,  by  a  common  movement,  to 
wards  the  ^venerable  Tamenund.  From  the  moment  that 
he  took  his  seat,  until  the  present  instant,  the  lips  of 
the  patriarch  had  not  severed,  and  scarcely  a  sign  of 
life  had  escaped  him.  He  sat  bent  in  feebleness,  and 
apparently  unconscious  of  the  presence  he  was  in,  during 
the  whole  of  that  opening  scene,  in  which  the  skill  of 
the  scout  had  been  so  clearly  established.  At  the  nicely 
graduated  sound  of  Magua's  voice,  however,  he  betrayed 
some  evidence  of  consciousness,  and  once  or  twice  he 
even  raised  his  head,  as  if  to  listen.  But  when  the  crafty 
Huron  spoke  of  his  nation  by  name,  the  eyelids  of  the 
ol.d  man  raised  themselves,  and  he  looked  out  upon  the 
multitude  with  that  sort  of  dull  unmeaning  expression 
which  might  be  supposed  to  belong  to  the  countenance  of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  451 

a  specter.  Then  he  made  an  effort  to  rise,  and  being  up 
held  by  his  supporters,  he  gained  his  feet,  in  a  posture 
commanding  by  its  dignity,  while  he  tottered  with 
weakness. 

"Who  calls  upon  the  children  of  the  Lenape!"  he 
said,  in  a  deep,  guttural  voice,  that  was  rendered  awfully 
audible  by  the  breathless  silence  of  the  multitude :  "  who 
speaks  of  things  gone!  Does  not  the  egg  become  a 
worm — the  worm  a  fly,  and  perish?  Why  tell  the  Dela- 
wares  of  good  that  is  past?  Better  thank  the  Manitou 
for  that  which  remains." 

"  It  is  a  Wyandot,"  said  Magua,  stepping  nigher  to 
the  rude  platform  on  which  the  other  stood;  "a  friend 
of  Tamenund." 

"  A  friend !  "  repeated  the  sage,  on  whose  brow  a  dark 
frown  settled,  imparting  a  portion  of  that  severity  which 
had  rendered  his  eye  so  terrible  in  middle  age.  "  Are 
the  Mingos  rulers  of  the  earth?  What  brings  a  Huron 
here?" 

"  Justice.  His  prisoners  are  with  his  brothers,  and  he 
comes  for  his  own." 

Tamenund  turned  his  head  towards  one  of  his  sup 
porters,  and  listened  to  the  short  explanation  the  man 
gave.  Then  facing  the  applicant,  he  regarded  him  a  mo 
ment  with  deep  attention;  after  which  he  said,  in  a  low 
and  reluctant  voice, — 

"  Justice  is  the  law  of  the  great  Manitou.  My  chil 
dren,  give  the  stranger  food.  Then,  Huron,  take  thine 
own  and  depart." 

On  the  delivery  of  this  solemn  judgment,  the  patriarch 
seate'd  himself,  and  closed  his  eyes  again,  as  if  better 
pleased  with  the  images  of  his  own  ripened  experience 
than  with  the  visible  objects  of  the  world.  Against  such 


452  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

a  decree  there  was  no  Delaware  sufficiently  hardy  to 
murmur,  much  less  oppose  himself.  The  words  were 
barely  uttered  when  four  or  five  of  the  younger  warriors, 
stepping  behind  Heyward  and  the  scout,  passed  thongs 
so  dexterously  and  rapidly  around  their  arms,  as  to 
hold  them  both  in  instant  bondage.  The  former  was  too 
much  engrossed  with  his  precious  and  nearly  insensible 
burden,  to  be  aware  of  their  intentions  before  they  were 
executed;  and  the  latter,  who  considered  even  the  hos 
tile  tribes  of  the  Delawares  a  superior  race  of  beings, 
submitted  without  resistance.  Perhaps,  however,  the 
manner  of  the  scout  would  not  have  been  so  passive, 
had  he  fully  comprehended  the  language  in  which  the 
preceding -dialogue  had  been  conducted. 

Magua  cast  a  look  of  triumph  around  the  whole  as 
sembly  before  he  proceeded  to  the  execution  of  his  pur 
pose.  Perceiving  that  the  men  were  unable  to  offer 
any  resistance,  he  turned  his  looks  on  her  he  valued  most. 
Cora  met  his  gaze  with  an  eye  so  calm  and  firm,  that  his 
resolution  wavered.  Then  recollecting  his  former  arti 
fice,  he  raised  Alice  from  the  arms  of  the  warrior  against 
whom  she  leaned,  and  beckoning  Heyward  to  follow, 
he  motioned  for  the  encircling  crowd  to  open.  But  Cora, 
instead  of  obeying  the  impulse  he  had  expected,  rushed 
to  the  feet  of  the  patriarch,  and  raising  her  voice,  ex 
claimed  aloud, — 

"  Just  and  venerable  Delaware,  on  thy  wisdom  and 
power  we  lean  for  mercy !  Be  deaf  to  yonder  artful 
and  remorseless  monster,  who  poisons  thy  ears  with 
falsehoods  to  feed  his  thirst  for  blood.  Thou  that  hast 
lived  long,  and  that  hast  seen  the  evil  of  the  world,  should 
know  how  to  temper  its  calamities  to  the  miserable." 

The  eyes  of  the  old  man  opened  heavily,  and  he  once 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  453 

more  looked  upwards  at  the  multitude.  As  the  piercing 
tones  of  the  supplicant  swelled  on  his  ears,  they  moved 
slowly  in  the  direction  of  her  person,  and  finally  settled 
there  in  a  steady  gaze.  Cora  had  cast  herself  to  her 
knees;  and,  with  hands  clenched  in  each  other  and 
pressed  upon  her  bosom,  she  remained  like  a  beauteous 
and  breathing  model  of  her  sex,  looking  up  in  his  faded, 
but  majestic  countenance,  with  a  species  of  holy,  rever 
ence.  Gradually  the  expression  of  Tamenund's  features 
changed,  and  losing  their  vacancy  in  admiration,  they 
lighted  with  a  portion  of  that  intelligence  which  a  cen 
tury  before  had  been  wont  to  communicate  his  youthful 
fire  to  the  extensive  bands  of  the  Delawares.  Rising 
without  assistance,  and  seemingly  without  an  effort,  he 
demanded,  in  a  voice  that  startled  its  auditors  by  its 
firmness, — 

"What  art  thou?" 

"  A  woman.  One  of  a  hated  race,  if  thou  wilt — a  Yen- 
gee.  But  one  who  has  never  harmed  thee,  and  who  can 
not  harm  thy  people,  if  she  would ;  who  asks  for  succor." 

"  Tell  me,  my  children,"  continued  the  patriarch, 
hoarsely,  motioning  to  those  around  him,  though  his 
eyes  still  dwelt  upon  the  kneeling  form  of  Cora,  "  where 
have  the  Delawares  camped?" 

"  In  the  mountains  of  the  Iroquois,  beyond  the  clear 
springs  of  the  Horican." 

"  Many  parching  summers  are  come  and  gone,"  con 
tinued  the  sage,  "  since  I  drank  of  the  water  of  my  own 
rivers.  The  children  of  Minquon  1  are  the  justest  white 

1  William  Penn  was  termed  Minquon  by  the  Delawares,  and, 
as  he  never  used  violence  or  injustice  in  his  dealings  with  them, 
his  reputation  for  probity  passed  into  a  proverb.  The  American 
is  justly  proud  of  the  origin  of  his  nation,  which  is  perhaps  un- 


454  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

men;  but  they  were  thirsty,  and  they  took  it  to  them 
selves.  Do  they  follow  us  so  far?" 

"  We  follow  none ;  we  covet  nothing,"  answered  Cora. 
"  Captives  against  our  wills,  have  we  been  brought  among 
you ;  and  we  ask  but  permission  to  depart  to  our  own  in 
peace.  Art  thou  not  Tamenund — the  father,  the  judge, 
I  had  almost  said,  the  prophet — of  this  people  ?  " 

"  I  am  Tamenund  of  many  days." 
;  Tis  now  some  seven  years  that  one  of  thy  people 
was  at  the  mercy  of  a  white  chief  on  the  borders  of  this 
province.  He  claimed  to  be  of  the  blood  of  the  good 
and  just  Tamenund.  '  Go,'  said  the  white  man,  '  for  thy 
parent's  sake  thou  art  free.'  Dost  thou  remember  the 
name  of  that  English  warrior?" 

"  I  remember,  that  when  a  laughing  boy,"  returned  the 
patriarch,  with  the  peculiar  recollection  of  vast  age,  "  I 
stood  upon  the  sands  of  the  seashore,  and  saw  a  big 
canoe,  with  wings  whiter  than  the  swan's,  and  wider 
than  many  eagles,  come  from  the  rising  sun." 

"  Nay,  nay ;  I  speak  not  of  a  time  so  very  distant,  but 
of  favor  shown  to  thy  kindred  by  one  of  mine,  within 
the  memory  of  thy  youngest  warrior." 

"  Was  it  when  the  Yengeese  and  the  Dutchmanne 
fought  for  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Delawares?  Then 
Tamenund  was  a  chief,  and  first  laid  aside  the  bow 
for  the  lightning  of  the  pale-faces— 

"  Nor  yet  then,"  interrupted  Cora,  "  by  many  ages.; 
I  speak  of  a  thing  of  yesterday.  Surely,  surely,  you  for 
get  it  not." 

equaled  in  the  history  of  the  world ;  but  the  Pennsylvanian  and 
Jerseyman  have  more  reason  to  value  themselves  in  their 
ancestors  than  the  natives  of  any  other  State,  since  no  wrong 
was  done  the  original  owners  of  the  soil. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  455 

"  It  was  but  yesterday,"  rejoined  the  aged  man,  with 
touching  pathos,  "  that  the  children  of  the  Lenape  were 
masters  of  the  world.  The  fishes  of  the  salt  lake,  the 
birds,  the  beasts,  and  the  Mengwe  of  the  woods,  owned 
them  for  Sagamores." 

Cora  bowed  her  head  in  disappointment,  and,  for  a 
bitter  moment,  struggled  with  her  chagrin.  Then  ele 
vating  her  rich  features  and  beaming  eyes,  she  continued, 
in  tones  scarcely  less  penetrating  than  the  unearthly  voice 
of  the  patriarch  himself, — 

"  Tell  me,  is  Tamenund  a  father?  " 

The  old  man  looked  down  upon  her  from  his  elevated 
stand,  with  a  benignant  smile  on  his  wasted  countenance, 
and  then  casting  his  eyes  slowly  over  the  whole  assem 
blage,  he  answered, — 

"  Of  a  nation." 

"  For  myself  I  ask  nothing.  Like  thee  and  thine,  ven 
erable  chief,"  she  continued,  pressing  her  hands  con 
vulsively  on  her  heart,  and  suffering  her  head  to  droop 
until  her  burning  cheeks  were  nearly  concealed  in  the 
maze  of  dark  glossy  tresses  that  fell  in  disorder  upon 
her  shoulders,  "  the  curse  of  my  ancestors  has  fallen 
heavily  on  their  child.  But  yonder  is  one  who  has  never 
known  the  weight  of  Heaven's  displeasure  until  now. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  an  old  and  failing  man,  whose 
days  are  near  their  close.  She  has  many,  very  many,  to 
love  her,  and  delight  in  her;  and  she  is  too  good,  much 
too  precious,  to  become  the  victim  of  that  villain." 

"  I  know  that  the  pale-faces  are  a  proud  and  hungry 
race.  I  know  that  they  claim  not  only  to  have  the  earth, 
but  that  the  meanest  of  their  color  is  better  than  the 
sachems  of  the  redman.  The  dogs  and  crows  of  their 
tribes,"  continued  the  earnest  old  chieftain,  without 


456  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

heeding  the  wounded  spirit  of  his  listener,  whose  head 
was  nearly  crushed  to  the  earth  in  shame,  as  he  pro 
ceeded,  "  would  bark  and  caw  before  they  would  take  a 
woman  to  their  wigwams  whose  blood  was  not  of  the 
color  of  snow.  But  let  them  not  boast  before  the  face 
of  the  Manitou  too  loud.  They  entered  the  land  at  the 
rising,  and  may  yet  go  off  at  the  setting  sun.  I  have 
often  seen  the  locusts  strip  the  leaves  from  the  trees, 
but  the  season  of  blossoms  has  always  come  again." 

"  It  is  so,"  said  Cora,  drawing  a  long  breath,  as  if 
reviving  from  a  trance,  raising  her  face,  and  shaking 
back  her  shining  veil,  with  a  kindling  eye,  that  contra 
dicted  the  deathlike  paleness  of  her  countenance ;  "  but 
why — it  is  not  permitted  us  to  inquire.  There  is  yet 
one  of  thine  own  people  who  has  not  been  brought  be 
fore  thee ;  before  thou  lettest  the  Huron  depart  in  tri 
umph,  hear  him  speak." 

Observing  Tamenund  to  look  about  him  doubtingly, 
one  of  his  companions  said, — 

"  It  is  a  snake — a  redskin  in  the  pay  of  the  Yengeese. 
We  keep  him  for  the  torture." 

"  Let  him  come,"  returned  the  sage. 

Then  Tamenund  once  more  sank  into  his  seat,  and  a 
silence  so  deep  prevailed,  while  the  young  men  prepared 
to  obey  his  simple  mandate,  that  the  leaves,  which  flut 
tered  in  the  draught  of  the  light  morning  air,  were  dis 
tinctly  heard  rustling  in  the  surrounding  forest. 


CHAPTER 
XXX.    & 


"If  you  deny  me,  fie  upon  your  law ! 
There  is  no  force  in  the  decrees  of  Venice : 
I  stand  for  judgment;  answer,  shall  I  have  it?" 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

THE  silence  continued  unbroken  by  human  sounds 
for  many  anxious  minutes.  Then  the  waving  mul 
titude  opened  and  shut  again,  and  Uncas  stood  in  the 
living  circle.  All  those  eyes,  which  had  been  curiously 
studying  the  lineaments  of  the  sage,  as  the  source  of  their 
own  intelligence,  turned  on  the  instant,  and  were  now 
bent  in  secret  admiration  on  the  erect,  agile,  and  fault 
less  person  of  the  captive.  But  neither  the  presence  in 
which  he  found  himself,  nor  the  exclusive  attention  that 
he  attracted,  in  any  manner  disturbed  the  self-possession 
of  the  young  Mohican.  He  cast  a  deliberate  and  ob 
serving  look  on  every  side  of  him,  meeting  the  settled 
expression  of  hostility  that  lowered  in  the  visages  of  the 
chiefs,  with  the  same  calmness  as  the  curious  gaze  of 
the  attentive  children.  But  when,  last  in  his  haughty 
scrutiny,  the  person  of  Tamenund  came  under  his  glance, 
his  eye  became  fixed,  as  though  all  other  objects  were 

457 


458  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

already  forgotten.  Then  advancing  with  a  slow  and 
noiseless  step  up  the  area,  he  placed  himself  immediately 
before  the  footstool  of  the  sage.  Here  he  stood  unnoted, 
though  keenly  observant  himself,  until  one  of  the  chiefs 
apprised  the  latter  of  his  presence. 

"  With  what  tongue  does  the  prisoner  speak  to  the 
Manitou  ? "  demanded  the  patriarch,  without  unclosing 
his  eyes. 

"  Like  his  fathers,"  Uncas  replied ;  "  with  the  tongue 
of  a  Delaware." 

At  this  sudden  and  unexpected  annunciation,  a  low, 
fierce  yell  ran  through  the  multitude,  that  might  not 
inaptly  be  compared  to  the  growl  of  the  lion,  as  his 
choler  is  first  awakened — a  fearful  omen  of  the  weight 
of  his  future  anger.  The  effect  was  equally  strong 
on  the  sage,  though  differently  exhibited.  He  passed 
a  hand  before  his  eyes,  as  if  to  exclude  the  least  evi 
dence  of  so  shameful  a  spectacle,  while  he  repeated, 
in  his  low,  guttural  tones,  the  words  he  had  just 
heard. 

"  A  Delaware !  I  have  lived  to  see  the  tribes  of  the 
Lenape  driven  from  their  council-fires,  and  scattered, 
like  broken  herds  of  deer,  among  the  hills  of  the  Iro- 
quois!  I  have  seen  the  hatchets  of  a  strange  people 
sweep  woods  from  the  valleys,  that  the  winds  of  heaven 
had  spared !  The  beasts  that  run  on  the  mountains,  and 
the  birds  that  fly  above  the  trees,  have  I  seen  living  in  the 
wigwams  of  men ;  but  never  before  have  I  found  a  Dela 
ware  so  base  as  to  creep,  like  a  poisonous  serpent,  into 
the  camps  of  his  nation." 

"  The  singing-birds  have  opened  their  bills,"  returned 
Uncas,  in  tHe  softest  notes  of  his  own  musical  voice; 
"  and  Tamenund  has  heard  their  song." 


r 


'  .       \ 

m\l 


w 


"  With    what    tongue    does    the    prisoner    speak    to    the 
Manitou?  " — Page  458. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  459 

The  sage  started,  and  bent  his  head  aside,  as  if  to  catch 
the  fleeting  sounds  of  some  passing  melody. 

"  Does  Tamenund  dream  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  What 
voice  is  at  his  ear!  Have  the  winters  gone  backward! 
Will  summer  come  again  to  the  children  of  the  Lenape!  " 

A  solemn  and  respectful  silence  succeeded  this  inco 
herent  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  Delaware  prophet.  His 
people  steadily  construed  his  unintelligible  language  into 
one  of  those  mysterious  conferences  he  was  believed  to 
hold  so  frequently  with  a  superior  intelligence,  and  they 
awaited  the  issue  of  the  revelation  in  awe.  After  a 
patient  pause,  however,  one  of  the  aged  men,  perceiving 
that  the  sage  had  lost  the  recollection  of  the  subject 
before  them,  ventured  to  remind  him  again  of  the  pres 
ence  of  the  prisoner. 

"  The  false  Delaware  trembles  lest  he  should  hear  the 
words  of  Tamenund,"  he  said.  "  Tis  a  hound  that  howls 
when  the  Yengeese  show  him  a  trail." 

"  And  ye,"  returned  Uncas,  looking  sternly  around 
him,  "  are  dogs  that  whine,  when  the  Frenchman  casts 
ye  the  offals  of  his  deer !  " 

Twenty  knives  gleamed  in  the  air,  and  as  many  war 
riors  sprang  to  their  feet,  at  this  biting,  and  perhaps 
merited  retort;  but  a  motion  from  one  of  the  chiefs  sup 
pressed  the  outbreaking  of  their  tempers,  and  restored 
the  appearance  of  quiet.  The  task  might  probably 
have  been  more  difficult,  had  not  a  movement  made 
by  Tamenund  indicated  that  he  was  again  about  to 
speak. 

"  Delaware !  "  resumed  the  sage,  "  little  art  thou 
worthy  of  thy  name.  My  people  have  not  seen  a  bright 
sun  in  many  winters;  and  the  warrior  who  deserts  his 
tribe  when  hid  in  clouds  is  doubly  a  traitor.  The  law 


460  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

of  the  Manitou  is  just.  It  is  so;  while  the  rivers  run 
and  the  mountains  stand,  while  the  blossoms  come  and 
go  on  the  trees,  it  must  be  so.  He  is  thine,  my  children; 
deal  justly  by  him." 

Not  a  limb  was  moved,  nor  was  a  breath  drawn  louder 
and  longer  than  common,  until  the  closing  syllable  of  this 
final  decree  had  passed  the  lips  of  Tamenund.  Then  a 
cry  of  vengeance  burst  at  once,  as  it  might  be,  from  the 
united  lips  of  the  nation;  a  frightful  augury  of  their 
ruthless  intentions.  In  the  midst  of  these  prolonged  and 
savage  yells,  a  chief  proclaimed,  in  a  high  voice,  that 
the  captive  was  condemned  to  endure  the  dreadful  trial 
of  torture  by  fire.  The  circle  broke  its  order,  and 
screams  of  delight  mingled  with  the  bustle  and  tumult 
of  preparation.  Heyward  struggled  madly  with  his  cap 
tors  ;  the  anxious  eyes  of  Hawkeye  began  to  look  around 
him,  with  an  expression  of  peculiar  earnestness;  and 
Cora  again  threw  herself  at  the  feet  of  the  patriarch, 
once  more  a  suppliant  for  mercy. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  these  trying  moments,  Uncas 
had  alone  preserved  his  serenity.  He  looked  on  the 
preparations  with  a  steady  eye,  and  when  the  tormentors 
came  to  seize  him,  he  met  them  with  a  firm  and  upright 
attitude.  One  among  them,  if  possible,  more  fierce  and 
savage  than  his  fellows,  seized  the  hunting-shirt  of  the 
young  warrior,  and  at  a  single  effort  tore  it  from  his 
body.  Then,  with  a  yell  of  frantic  pleasure,  he  leaped 
towards  his  unresisting  victim,  and  prepared  to  lead  him 
to  the  stake.  But,  at  that  moment,  when  he  appeared 
most  a  stranger  to  the  feelings  of  humanity,  the  purpose 
of  the  savage  was  arrested  as  suddenly  as  if  a  super 
natural  agency  had  interposed  in  the  behalf  of  Uncas. 
The  eyeballs  of  the  Delaware  seemed  to  start  from  their 


> 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  461 

sockets;  his  mouth  opened,  and  his  whole  form  became 
frozen  in  an  attitude  of  amazement.  Raising  his  hand 
with  a  slow  and  regulated  motion,  he  pointed  with  a 
finger  to  the  bosom  of  the  captive.  His  companions 
crowded  about  him  in  wonder,  and  every  eye  was,  like 
his  own,  fastened  intently  on  the  figure  of  a  small  tor 
toise,  beautifully  tattooed  on  the  breast  of  the  prisoner, 
in  a  bright  blue  tint. 

For  a  single  instant  Uncas  enjoyed  his  triumph,  smil 
ing  calmly  on  the  scene.  Then  motioning  the  crowd 
away  with  a  high  and  haughty  sweep  of  his  arm,  he 
advanced  in  front  of  the  nation  with  the  air  of  a  king, 
and  spoke  in  a  voice  louder  than  the  murmur  of  admira 
tion  that  ran  through  the  multitude. 

"  Men  of  the  Lenni  Lenape !  "  he  said,  "  my  race  up 
holds  the  earth !  Your  feeble  tribe  stands  on  my  shell ! 
What  fire  that  a  Delaware  can  light  would  burn  the  child 
of  my  fathers,"  he  added,  pointing  proudly  to  the  simple 
blazonry  on  his  skin ;  "  the  blood  that  came  from  such 
a  stock  would  smother  your  flames !  My  race  is  the 
grandfather  of  nations !  " 

"  Who  art  thou  ?  "  demanded  Tamenund,  rising  at  the 
startling  tones  he  heard,  more  than  at  any  meaning  con 
veyed  by  the  language  of  the  prisoner. 

"  Uncas,  the  son  of  Chingachgook,"  answered  the  cap 
tive  modestly,  turning  from  the  nation,  and  bending  his 
head  in  reverence  to  the  other's  character  and  years; 
"  a  son  of  the  great  Unarms." 

"  The  hour  of  Tamenund  is  nigh !  "  exclaimed  the  sage ; 
"  the  day  is  come,  at  last,  to  the  night !  I  thank  the 
Manitou,  that  one  is  here  to  fill  my  place  at  the  council- 
fire.  Uncas,  the  child  of  Uncas,  is  found !  Let  the  eyes 
of  a  dying  eagle  gaze  on  the  rising  sun." 

1  Turtle. 


462  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

The  youth  stepped  lightly,  but  proudly,  on  the  plat 
form,  where  he  became  visible  to  the  whole  agitated  and 
wondering  multitude.  Tamenund  held  him  long  at  the 
length  of  his  arm,  and  read  every  turn  in  the  fine  linea 
ments  of  his  countenance,  with  the  untiring  gaze  of  one 
who  recalled  days  of  happiness. 

"  Is  Tamenund  a  boy  ? "  at  length  the  bewildered 
prophet  exclaimed.  "  Have  I  dreamt  of  so  many  snows — 
that  my  people  were  scattered  like  floating  sands — of 
Yengeese,  more  plenty  than  the  leaves  on  the  trees !  The 
arrow  of  Tamenund  would  not  frighten  the  fawn;  his 
arm  is  withered  like  the  branch  of  a  dead  oak ;  the  snail 
would  be  swifter  in  the  race;  yet  is  Uncas  before  him 
as  they  went  to  battle  against  the  pale-faces!  Uncas, 
the  panther  of  his  tribe,  the  eldest  son  of  the  Lenape, 
the  wisest  Sagamore  of  the  Mohicans !  Tell  me,  ye  Dela- 
wares,  has  Tamenund  been  a  sleeper  for  a  hundred 
winters?  " 

The  calm  and  deep  silence  which  succeeded  these 
words,  sufficiently  announced  the  awful  reverence  with 
which  hts  people  received  the  communication  of  the  pa 
triarch.  None  dared  to  answer,  though  all  listened  in 
breathless  expectation  of  what  might  follow.  Uncas, 
however,  looking  in  his  face  with  the  fondness  and  ven 
eration  of  a  favored  child,  presumed  on  his  own  high 
and  acknowledged  rank,  to  reply. 

"  Four  warriors  of  his  race  have  lived,  and  died,"  he 
said,  "  since  the  friend  of  Tamenund  led  his  people  in 
battle.  The  blood  of  the  turtle  has  rJeen  in  many  chiefs, 
but  all  have  gone  back  into  the  earth  from  whence  they 
came  except  Chingachgook  and  his  son." 

"  It  is  true — it  is  true,"  returned  the  sage ;  a  flash  of 
recollection  destroying  all  his  pleasing  fancies,  and  re- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  463 

storing  him  at  once  to  a  consciousness  of  the  true  history 
of  his  nation.  "  Our  wise  men  have  often  said  that  two 
warriors  of  the  unchanged  race  were  in  the  hills  of  the 
Yengeese ;  why  have  their  seats  at  the  council-fires  of  the 
Delawares  been  so  long  empty  ?  " 

At  these  words  the  young  man  raised  his  head,  which 
he  had  still  kept  bowed  a  little,  in  reverence;  and  lifting 
his  voice  so  as  to  be  heard  by  the  multitude,  as  if  to  ex 
plain  at  once  and  forever  the  policy  of  his  family,  he 
said  aloud, — 

"  Once  we  slept  where  we  could  hear  the  salt  lake 
speak  in  its  anger.  Then  we  were  rulers  and  sagamores 
over  the  land.  But  when  a  pale-face  was  seen  on  every 
brook,  we  followed  the  deer  back  to  the  river  of  our 
nation.  The  Delawares  were  gone.  Few  warriors  of 
them  all  stayed  to  drink  of  the  stream  they  loved.  Then 
said  my  fathers :  '  Here  will  we  hunt.  The  waters  of 
the  river  go  into  the  salt  lake.  If  we  go  towards  the 
setting  sun,  we  shall  find  streams  that  run  into  the  great 
lakes  of  sweet  water;  there  would  a  Mohican  die,  like 
fishes  of  the  sea,  in  the  clear  springs.  When  the  Manitou 
is  ready,  and  shall  say  "  Come,"  we  will  follow  the  river 
to  the  sea,  and  take  our  own  again.'  Such,  Delawares, 
is  the  belief  of  the.children  of  the  Turtle.  Our  eyes  are 
on  the  rising,  and  not  towards  the  setting  sun.  We 
know  whence  he  comes,  but  we  know  not  whither  he 
goes.  It  is  enough." 

The  men  of  the  Lenape  listened  to  his  words  with  all 
the  respect  that  superstition  could  lend,  finding  a  secret 
charm  even  in  the  figurative  language  with  which  the 
young  Sagamore  imparted  his  ideas.  Uncas  himself 
watched  the  effect  of  his  brief  explanation  with  intelli 
gent  eyes,  and  gradually  dropped  the  air  of  authority 


464  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

he  had  assumed,  as  he  perceived  that  his  auditors  were 
content.  Then  permitting  his  looks  to  wander  over  the 
silent  throng  that  crowded  around  the  elevated  seat  of 
Tamenund,  he  first  perceived  Hawkeye  in  his  bonds. 
Stepping  eagerly  from  his  stand,  he  made  way  for  him 
self  to  the  side  of  his  friend ;  and  cutting  his  thongs  with 
a  quick  and  angry  stroke  of  his  own  knife,  he  motioned 
to  the  crowd  to  divide.  The  Indians  silently  obeyed, 
and  once  more  they  stood  ranged  in  their  circle,  as  before 
his  appearance  among  them.  Uncas  took  the  scout  by 
the  hand,  and  led  him  to  the  feet  of  the  patriarch. 

"  Father,"  he  said,  "  look  at  this  pale-face;  a  just  man, 
and  the  friend  of  the  Delawares." 

"  Is  he  a  son  of  Miquon?  " 

"  Not  so ;  a  warrior  known  to  the  Yengeese,  and  feared 
by  the  Maquas." 

"  What  name  has  he  gained  by  his  deeds  ?  " 

"  We  call  him  Hawkeye,"  Uncas  replied,  using  the 
Delaware  phrase ;  "  for  his  sight  never  fails.  The  Mingos 
know  him  better  by  the  death  he  gives  their  warriors; 
.with  them  he  is  '  The  Long  Rifle.'  ' 

"  La  Longue  Carabine !  "  exclaimed  Tamenund,  open 
ing  his  eyes,  and  regarding  the  scout  sternly.  "  My  son 
has  not  done  well  to  call  him  friend." 

"  I  call  him  so  who  proves  himself  such,"  returned  the 
young  chief,  with  great  calmness,  but  with  a  steady  mien. 
"  If  Uncas  is  welcome  among  the  Delawares,  then  is 
Hawkeye  with  his  friends." 

"  The  pale-face  has  slain  my  young  men ;  his  name 
is  great  for  the  blows  he  has  struck  the  Lenape." 

"  If  a  Mingo  has  whispered  that  much  in  the  ear 
of  the  Delaware,  he  has  only  shown  that  he  is  a  singing- 
bird,"  said  the  scout,  who  now  believed  that  it  was  time 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  465 

to  vindicate  himself  from  such  offensive  charges,  and 
who  spoke  in  the  tongue  of  the  man  he  addressed,  modi 
fying  his  Indian  figures,  however,  with  his  own  peculiar 
notions.  '  That  I  have  slain  the  Maquas  I  am  not  the 
man  to  deny,  even  at  their  own  council-fires;  but  that, 
knowingly,  my  hand  has  ever  harmed  a  Delaware,  is 
opposed  to  the  reason  of  my  gifts,  which  is  friendly  to 
them,  and  all  that  belongs  to  their  nation." 

A  low  exclamation  of  applause  passed  among  the  war 
riors,  who  exchanged  looks  with  each  other  like  men  that 
first  began  to  perceive  their  error. 

"  Where  is  the  Huron  ? "  demanded  Tamenund. 
"  Has  he  stopped  my  ears  ?  " 

Magua,  whose  feelings  during  that  scene  in  which 
Uncas  had  triumphed  may  be  much  better  imagined  than 
described,  answered  to  the  call  by  stepping  boldly  in 
front  of  the  patriarch. 

"  The  just  Tamenund,"  he  said,  "  will  not  keep  what 
a  Huron  has  lent." 

"  Tell  me,  son  of  my  brother,"  returned  the  sage, 
avoiding  the  dark  countenance  of  Le  Subtil,  and  turning 
gladly  to  the  more  ingenuous  features  of  Uncas,  "  has 
the  stranger  a  conqueror's  right  over  you  ?  " 

"  He  has  none.  The  panther  may  get  into  snares  set 
by  the  women ;  but  he  is  strong,  and  knows  how  to  leap 
through  them." 

"  La  Longue  Carabine  ?  " 

"  Laughs  at  the  Mingos.  Go,  Huron,  ask  your  squaws 
the  color  of  a  bear." 

"  The  stranger  and  the  white  maiden  that  came  into 
my  camp  together  ?  " 

"  Should  journey  on  an  open  path." 

"  And  the  woman  that  Huron  left  with  my  warriors  ?  " 


466  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Uncas  made  no  reply. 

"  And  the  woman  that  the  Mingo  has  brought  into 
my  camp,"  repeated  Tamenund,  gravely. 

"  She  is  mine,"  cried  Magua,  shaking  his  hand  in  tri 
umph  at  Uncas.  "  Mohican,  you  know  that  she  is  mine." 

"  My  son  is  silent,"  said  Tamenund,  endeavoring  to 
read  the  expression  of  the  face  that  the  youth  turned 
from  him  in  sorrow. 

"  It  is  so,"  was  the  low  answer. 

A  short  and  impressive  pause  succeeded,  during  which 
it  was  very  apparent  with  what  reluctance  the  multitude 
admitted  the  justice  of  the  Mingo's  claim.  At  length 
the  sage,  on  whom  alone  the  decision  depended,  said,  in 
a  firm  voice, — 

"  Huron,  depart." 

"  As  he  came,  just  Tamenund,"  demanded  the  wily 
Magua :  "  or  with  hands  filled  with  the  faith  of  the  Dela- 
wares?  The  wigwam  of  Le  Renard  Subtil  is  empty. 
Make  him  strong  with  his  own." 

The  aged  man  mused  with  himself  for  a  time;  and  then 
bending  his  head  towards  one  of  his  venerable  com 
panions,  he  asked, — 

"  Are  my  ears  open?  " 

"It  is  true." 

"Is  this  Mingo  a  chief?" 

"  The  first  in  his  nation." 

"  Girl,  what  wouldst  thou  ?  A  great  warrior  takes 
thee  to  wife.  Go!  thy  race  will  not  end." 

"  Better,  a  thousand  times,  it  should,"  exclaimed  the 
horror-struck  Cora,  "  than  meet  with  such  a  degra 
dation  !  " 

"  Huron,  her  mind  is  in  the  tents  of  her  fathers.  An 
unwilling  maiden  makes  an  unhappy  wigwam." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  467 

"  She  speaks  with  the  tongue  of  her  people,"  returned 
Magua,  regarding  his  victim  with  a  look  of  bitter  irony. 
"  She  is  of  a  race  of  traders,  and  will  bargain  for  a 
bright  look.  Let  Tamenund  speak  the  words." 

"  Take  you  the  wampum,  and  our  love." 

"  Nothing  hence  but  what  Magua  brought  hither." 

"  Then  depart  with  thine  own.  The  great  Manitou 
forbids  that  a  Delaware  should  be  unjust." 

Magua  advanced,  and  seized  his  captive  strongly  by 
the  arm;  the  Delawares  fell  back,  in  silence;  and  Cora, 
as  if  conscious  that  remonstrance  would  be  useless,  pre 
pared  to  submit  to  her  fate  without  resistance. 

"  Hold !  hold !  "  cried  Duncan,  springing  forward ; 
"  Huron,  have  mercy ;  her  ransom  shall  make  thee 
richer  than  any  of  thy  people  were  ever  yet  known  to 
be." 

"  Magua  is  a  redskin ;  he  wants  not  the  beads  of  the 
pale-faces." 

"  Gold,  silver,  powder,  lead — all  that  a  warrior  needs 
shall  be  in  thy  wigwam;  all  that  becomes  the  greatest 
chief." 

"  Le  Subtil  is  very  strong,"  cried  Magua,  violently 
shaking  the  hand  which  grasped  the  unresisting  arm  of 
Cora ;  "  he  has  his  revenge !  " 

"  Mighty  ruler  of  providence !  "  exclaimed  Heyward, 
clasping  his  hands  together  in  agony,  "  can  this  be 
suffered!  To  you,  just  Tamenund,  I  appeal  for 
mercy." 

"  The  words  of  the  Delaware  are  said,"  returned  the 
sage,  closing  his  eyes,  and  dropping  back  into  his  seat, 
alike  wearied  with  his  mental  and  his  bodily  exertion. 
"  Men  speak  .not  twice." 

"  That  a  chief  should  not  misspend  his  time  in  unsay- 


468  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

ing  what  has  once  been  spoken,  is  wise  and  reasonable," 
said  Hawkeye,  motioning  to  Duncan  to  be  silent ;  "  but 
it  is  also  prudent  in  every  warrior  to  consider  well  before 
he  strikes  his  tomahawk  into  the  head  of  his  prisoner. 
Huron,  I  love  you  not ;  nor  can  I  say  that  any  Mingo  has 
ever  received  much  favor  at  my  hands.  It  is  fair  to 
conclude  that,  if  this  war  does  not  soon  end,  many  more 
of  your  warriors  will  meet  me  in  the  woods.  Put  it  to 
your  judgment,  then,  whether  you  would  prefer  taking 
such  a  prisoner  as  that  into  your  encampment,  or  one 
like  myself,  who  am  a  man  that  it  would  greatly  rejoice 
your  nation  to  see  with  naked  hands." 

"  Will  '  The  Long  Rifle  '  give  his  life  for  the  woman?  " 
demanded  Magua,  hesitatingly ;  for  he  had  already  macfc 
a  motion  towards  quitting  the  place  with  his  victim. 

"  No,  no ;  I  have  not  said  so  much  as  that/'  returned 
Hawkeye,  drawing  back  with  suitable  discretion,  when 
he  noted  the  eagerness  with  which  Magua  listened  to  his 
proposal.  "  It  would  be  an  unequal  exchange,  to  give  a 
warrior,  in  the  prime  of  his  age  and  usefulness,  for  the 
best  woman  on  the  frontiers.  I  might  consent  to  go  into 
winter-quarters,  now — at  least  six  weeks  afore  the  leaves 
will  turn — on  condition  you  will  release  the  maiden." 

Magua  shook  his  head,  and  made  an  impatient  sign 
for  the  crowd  to  open. 

"  Well,  then,"  added  the  scout,  with  the  musing  air  of 
a  man  who  had. not  half  made  up  his  mind,  "  I  will  throw 
'  Killdeer '  into  the  bargain.  Take  the  word  of  an  expe 
rienced  hunter,  the  piece  has  not  its  equal  atween  the 
provinces." 

Magua  still  disdained  to  reply,  continuing  his  efforts 
to  disperse  the  crowd. 

"Perhaps,"    added   the   scout,    losing   his    dissembled 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  469 

coolness,  exactly  in  proportion  as  the  other  manifested 
an  indifference  to  the  exchange,  "  if  I  should  condition 
to  teach  your  young  men  the  real  virtue  of  the  we'pon, 
it  would  smooth  the  little  differences  in  our  judgments." 

Le  Renard  fiercely  ordered  the  Delawares,  who  still 
lingered  in  an  impenetrable  belt  around  him,  in  hopes 
he  would  listen  to  the  amicable  proposal,  to  open  his  path, 
threatening,  by  the  glance  of  his  eye,  another  appeal  to 
the  infallible  justice  of  their  "  prophet." 

"  What  is  ordered  must  sooner  or  later  arrive,"  con 
tinued  Hawkeye,  turning  with  a  sad  and  humbled  look 
to  Uncas.  ;<  The  varlet  knows  his  advantage,  and  will 
keep  it!  God  bless  you,  boy;  you  have  found  friends 
among  your  natural  kin,  and  I  hope  they  will  prove  as 
true  as  some  you  have  met  who  had  no  Indian  cross. 
As  for  me,  sooner  or  later,  I  must  die;  it  is  therefore 
fortunate  there  are  but  few  to  make  my  death-howl. 
After  all,  it  is  likely  the  imps  would  have  managed  to 
master  my  scalp,  so  a  day  or  two  will  make  no  great 
difference  in  the  everlasting  reckoning  of  time.  God  bless 
you,"  added  the  rugged  woodsman,  bending  his  head 
aside,  and  then  instantly  changing  its  direction  again, 
with  a  wistful  look  towards  the  youth ;  "  I  loved  both  you 
and  your  father,  Uncas,  though  our  skins  are  not  alto 
gether  of  a  color,  and  our  gifts  are  somewhat  different. 
Tell  the  Sagamore  I  never  lost  sight  of  him  in  my  great 
est  trouble ;  and,  as  for  you,  think  of  me  sometimes  when 
on  a  lucky  trail;  and  depend  on  it,  boy,  whether  there 
be  one  heaven  or  two,  there  is  a  path  in  the  other  world 
by  which  honest  men  may  come  together  again.  You'll 
find  the  rifle  in  the  place  we  hid  it;  take  it,  and  keep  it 
for  my  sake;  and  harkee,  lad,  as  your  natural  gifts  don't 
deny  you  the  use  of  vengeance,  use  it  a  little  freely  on 


47°  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  Mingos ;  it  may  unburden  grief  at  my  loss,  and  ease 
your  mind.  Huron,  I  accept  your  offer;  release  the 
woman.  I  am  your  prisoner !  " 

A  suppressed,  but  still  distinct  murmur  of  approbation, 
ran  through  the  crowd  at  this  generous  proposition ;  even 
the  fiercest  among  the  Delaware  warriors  manifesting 
pleasure  at  .the  manliness  of  the  intended  sacrifice. 
Magua  paused,  and  for  an  anxious  moment,  it  might  be 
said,  he  doubted;  then  casting  his  eyes  on  Cora,  with 
an  expression  in  which  ferocity  and  admiration  were 
strangely  mingled,  his  purpose  became  fixed  forever. 

He  intimated  his  contempt  of  the  offer  with  a  back 
ward  motion  of  his  head,  and  said,  in  a  steady  and  set 
tled  voice, — 

"  Le  Renard  Subtil  is  a  great  chief ;  he  has  but  one 
mind.  Come,"  he  added,  laying  his  hand  too  familiarly 
on  the  shoulder  of  his  captive  to  urge  her  onward ;  "  a 
Huron  is  no  tattler;  we  will  go." 

The  maiden  drew  back  in  lofty  womanly  reserve,  and 
her  dark  eye  kindled,  while  the  rich  blood  shot,  like  the 
passing  brightness  of  the  sun,  into  her  very  temples,  at 
the  indignity. 

"  I  am  your  prisoner,  and  at  a  fitting  time  shall  be 
ready  to  follow,  even  to  my  death.  But  violence  is  un 
necessary,"  she  coldly  said;  and  immediately  turning  to 
Hawkeye,  added,  "  Generous  hunter !  from  my  soul  I 
thank  you.  Your  offer  is  in  vain,  neither  could  it  be 
accepted;  but  still  you  may  serve  me,  even  more  than 
in  your  own  noble  intention.  Look  at  that  drooping, 
humbled  child!  Abandon  her  not  until  you  leave  her  in 
the  habitation  of  civilized  men.  I  will  not  say,"  wringing 
the  hard  hand  of  the  scout,  "  that  her  father  will  reward 
you — for  such  as  you  arc  above  the  rewards  of  men — 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  471 

but  he  will  thank  you,  and  bless  you.  And,  believe  me, 
the  blessing  of  a  just  and  aged  man  has  virtue  in  the 
sight  of  Heaven.  Would  to  God,  I  could  hear  one  from 
his  lips  at  this  awful  moment !  "  Her  voice  became 
choked,  and,  f<3r  an  instant,  she  was  silent ;  then  advanc 
ing  a  step  nigher  to  Duncan,  who  was  supporting  her  un 
conscious  sister,  she  continued,  in  more  subdued  tones, 
but  in  which  feeling  and  the  habits  of  her  sex  maintained 
a  fearful  struggle, — "  I  need  not  tell  you  to  cherish  the 
treasure  you  will  possess.  You  love  her,  Heyward ;  that 
would  conceal  a  thousand  faults,  though  she  had  them. 
She  is  kind,  gentle,  sweet,  good,  as  mortal  may  be.  There 
is  not  a  blemish  in  mind  or  person  at  which  the  proudest 
of  you  all  would  sicken.  She  is  fair — O !  how  surpass 
ingly  fair !  "  laying  her  own  beautiful,  but  less  brilliant 
hand,  in  melancholy  affection  on  the  alabaster  forehead 
of  Alice,  and  parting  the  golden  hair  which  clustered 
about  her  brows ;  "  and  yet  her  soul  is  pure  and  spotless 
as  her  skin!  I  could  say  much — more,  perhaps,  than 
cooler  reason  would  approve;  but  I  will  spare  you  and 
myself—  Her  voice  became  inaudible,  and  her  face 
was  bent  over  the  form  of  her  sister.  After  a  long  and 
burning  kiss,  she  arose,  and  with  features  of  the  hue  of 
death,  but  without  even  a  tear  in  her  feverish  eye,  she 
turned  away,  and  added,  to  the  savage,  with  all  her  for 
mer  elevation  of  manner, — "  Now,  sir,  if  it  be  your 
pleasure,  I  will  follow." 

"  Aye,  go,"  cried  Duncan,  placing  Alice  in  the  arms 
of  an  Indian  girl ;  "  go,  Magua,  go.  These  Delawares 
have  their  laws,  which  forbid  them  to  detain  you ;  but 
I — I  have  no  such  obligation.  Go,  malignant  monster — 
why  do  you  delay?  " 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  expression  with 


472  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

which  Magua  listened  to  this  threat  to  follow.  There 
was  at  first  a  fierce  and  manifest  display  of  joy,  and  then 
it  was  instantly  subdued  in  a  look  of  cunning  boldness. 

"  The  woods  are  open,"  he  wa's  content  with  answer 
ing  ;  "  '  The  Open  Hand  '  can  come." 

"  Hold,"  cried  Hawkeye,  seizing  Duncan  by  the  arm, 
and  detaining  him  by  violence ;  "  you  know  not  the  craft 
of  the  imp.  He  would  lead  you  to  an  ambushment,  and 
your  death — " 

"  Huron,"  interrupted  Uncas,  who,  submissive  to  the 
stern  customs  of  his  people,  had  been  an  attentive  and 
grave  listener  to  all  that  passed;  "Huron,  the  justice 
of  the  Delawares  comes  from  the  Manitou.  Look  at  the 
sun.  He  is  now  in  the  upper  branches  of  the  hemlock. 
Your  path  is  short  and  open.  When  he  is  seen  above 
the  trees,  there  will  be  men  on  your  trail." 

"  I  hear  a  crow !  "  exclaimed  Magua,  with  a  taunting 
laugh.  "  Go !  "  he  added,  shaking  his  hand  at  the  crowd, 
which  had  slowly  opened  to  admit  his  passage, — "  Where 
are  the  petticoats  of  the  Delawares !  Let  them  send  their 
arrows  and  their  guns  to  the  Wyandots ;  they  shall  have 
venison  to  eat,  and  corn  to  hoe.  Dogs,  rabbits,  thieves — 
I  spit  on  you !  " 

His  parting  gibes  were  listened  to  in  a  dead,  boding 
silence,  and,  with  these  biting  words  in  his  mouth,  the  tri 
umphant  Magua  passed  unmolested  into  the  forest,  fol 
lowed  by  his  passive  captive,  and  protected  by  the  in 
violable  laws  of  Indian  hospitality. 


CHAPTER^- 
XXXI.  3  £L 


"  Flue. — Kill  the  poys  and  the  luggage  !  Tis  expressly  against 
the  law  of  arms ;  'tis  as  arrant  a  piece  of  knavery,  mark  you  now, 
as  can  be  offered  in  the  world." 

King  Henry  V. 

SO  long  as  their  enemy  and  his  victim  continued  in 
sight,  the  multitude  remained  motionless  as  beings 
charmed  to  the  place  by  some  power  that  was  friendly 
to  the  Huron;  but  the  instant  he  disappeared,  it  became 
tossed  and  agitated  by  fierce  and  powerful  passion. 
Uncas  maintained  his  elevated  stand,  keeping  his  eyes 
on  the  form  of  Cora,  until  the  colors  of  her  dress  were 
blended  with  the  foliage  of  the  forest;  when  he  de 
scended;  and  moving  silently  through  the  throng,  he  dis 
appeared  in  that  lodge  from  which  he  had  so  recently 
issued.  A  few  of  the  graver  and  more  attentive  war 
riors,  who  caught  the  gleams  of  anger  that  shot  from  the 
eyes  of  the  young  chief  in  passing,  followed  him  to  the 
place  he  had  selected  for  his  meditations.  After  which, 
Tamenund  and  Alice  were  removed,  and  the  women  and 
children  were  ordered  to  disperse.  During  the  momen 
tous  hour  that  succeeded,  the  encampment  resembled  a 

473 


474  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

hive  of  troubled  bees,  who  only  awaited  the  appearance 
and  example  of  their  leader  to  take  some  distant  and 
momentous  flight. 

A  young  warrior  at  length  issued  from  the  lodge  of 
Uncas;  and  moving  deliberately,  with  a  sort  of  grave 
march,  towards  a  dwarf  pine  that  grew  in  the  crevices 
of  the  rocky  terrace,  he  tore  the  bark  from  its  body,  and 
then  returned  whence  he  came  without  speaking.  He 
was  soon  followed  by  another,  who  stripped  the  sapling 
of  its  branches,  leaving  it  a  naked  and  blazed  *  trunk.  A 
third  colored  the  posts  with  strips  of  a  dark  red  paint ;  all 
which  indications  of  a  hostile  design  in  the  leaders  of  the 
nation  were  received  by  the  men  without  in  a  gloomy  and 
ominous  silence.  Finally,  the  Mohican  himself  reap 
peared,  divested  of  all  his  attire  except  his  girdle  and 
leggings,  and  with  one-half  of  his  fine  features  hid  under 
a  cloud  of  threatening  black. 

Uncas  moved  with  a  slow  and  dignified  tread  towards 
the  post,  which  he  immediately  commenced  encircling 
with  a  measured  step,  not  unlike  an  ancient  dance,  rais 
ing  his  voice,  at  the  same  time,  in  the  wild  and  irregular 
chant  of  his  war-song.  The  notes  were  in  the  extremes 
of  human  sounds;  being  sometimes  melancholy  and  ex 
quisitely  plaintive,  even  rivaling  the  melody  of  birds — 
and  then,  by  sudden  and  startling  transitions,  causing 
the  auditors  to  tremble  by  their  depth  and  energy.  The 
words  were  few  and  often  repeated,  proceeding  gradu 
ally  from  a  sort  of  invocation,  or  hymn  to  the  Deity, 
to  an  intimation  of  the  warrior's  object,  and  terminating 

1 A  tree  which  has  been  partially  or  entirely  stripped  of  its 
bark  is  said,  in  the  language  of  the  country,  to  be  "blazed." 
The  term  is  strictly  English ;  for  a  horse  is  said  to  be  blazed 
when  it  has  a  white  mark. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  475 

as  they  commenced  with  an  acknowledgment  of  his  own 
dependence  on  the  Great  Spirit.  If  it  were  possible  to 
translate  the  comprehensive  and  melodious  language  in 
which  he  spoke,  the  ode  might  read  something  like  the 
following : — 

"  Manitou  !  Manitou  !  Manitou  ! 
Thou  art  great,  thou  art  good,  thou  art  wise: 
Manitou !  Manitou ! 
Thou  art  just. 

"  In  the  heavens,  in  the  clouds,  O,  I  see 
Many  spots — many  dark,  many  red: 
In  the  heavens,  O,  I  see 
Many  clouds. 

"In  the  woods,  in  the  air,  O,  I  hear 
The  whoop,  the  long  yell,  and  the  cry: 
In  the  woods,  O,  I  hear 
The  loud  whoop ! 

"Manitou!  Manitou!  Manitou! 
Thou  art  weak— thou  art  strong ;  I  am  slow  : 
Manitou !  Manitou ! 
Give  me  aid." 

At  the  end  of  what  might  be  called  each  verse  he  made 
a  pause,  by  raising  a  note  louder  and  longer  than  com 
mon,  that  ^was^  peculiarly  suited  to  the  sentiment  just  ex 
pressed.  •  The  first  close  was  solemn,  and  intended  to 
convey  the  idea  of  veneration;  the  second  descriptive, 
bordering  on  the  alarming;  and  the  third  was  the  well- 
known  and  terrific  war-whoop,  which  burst  from  the  lips 
of  the  young  warrior,  like  a  combination  of  all  the  fright 
ful  sounds  of  battle.  The  last  was  like  the  first,  humble 
and  imploring.  Three  times  did  he  repeat  this  song,  and 
as  often  did  he  encircle  the  post  in  his  dance. 


476  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

At  the  close  of  the  first  turn,  a  grave  and  highly  es 
teemed  chief  of  the  Lenape  followed  his  example,  sing 
ing  words  of  his  own,  however,  to  music  of  a  similar 
character.  Warrior  after  warrior  enlisted  in  the  dance, 
until  all  of  any  renown  and  authority  were  numbered  in 
its  mazes.  The  spectacle  now  became  wildly  terrific ;  the 
fierce-looking  and  menacing  visages  of  the  chiefs  receiv 
ing  additional  power  from  the  appalling  strains  in  which 
they  mingled  their  guttural  tones.  Just  then  Uncas 
struck  his  tomahawk  deep  into  the  post,  and  raised  his 
voice  in  a  shout,  which  might  be  termed  his  own  battle- 
cry.  The  act  announced  that  he  had  assumed  the  chief 
authority  in  the  intended  expedition. 

It  was  a  signal  that  awakened  all  the  slumbering  pas 
sions  of  a  nation.  A  hundred  youths,  who  had  hitherto 
been  restrained  by  the  diffidence  of  their  years,  rushed 
in  a  frantic  body  on  the  fancied  emblem  of  their  enemy, 
and  severed  it  asunder,  splinter  by  splinter,  until  nothing 
remained  of  the  trunk  but  its  roots  in  the  earth.  Dur 
ing  this  moment  of  tumult,  the  most  ruthless  defeds  of 
war  were  performed  on  the  fragments  of  the  tree,  with 
as  much  apparent  ferocity  as  if  they  were  the  living  vic 
tims  of  their  cruelty.  Some  were  scalped ;  some  received 
the  keen  and  trembling, ax ;  and  others  suffered  by  thrusts 
from  the  fatal  Jknife./  In  short,  the  manifestations  of 
zeal  and  fierce  deliglit  were  so  great  and  unequivocal, 
that  the  expedition  was  declared  to  be  a  war  of  the 
nation. 

The  instant  Uncas  had  struck  the  blow,  he  moved  out 
of  the  circle,  and  cast  his  eyes  up  to  the  sun,  which  was 
just  gaining  the  point,  when  the  truce  with  Magua  was 
to  end.  The  fact  was  soon  announced  by  a  significant 
gesture,  accompanied  by  a  corresponding  cry;  and  the 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  477 

whole  of  the  excited  multitude  abandoned  their  mimic 
warfare,  with  shrill  yells  of  pleasure,  to  prepare  for  the 
more  hazardous  experiment  of  the  reality. 

The  whole  face  of  the  encampment  was  instantly 
changed.  The  warriors,  who  were  already  armed  and 
painted,  became  as  still  as  if  they  were  incapable  of  any 
uncommon  burst  of  emotion.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
women  broke  out  of  the  lodges,  with  the  songs  of  joy  and 
those  of  lamentation,  so  strangely  mingled,  that  it  might 
have  been  difficult  to  have  said  which  passion  prepon 
derated.  None,  however,  were  idle.  Some  bore  their 
choicest  articles,  others  their  young,  and  some  their  aged 
and  infirm,  into  the  forest,  which  spread  itself  like  a 
verdant  carpet  of  bright  green  against  the  side  of  the 
mountain.  rThitKer  Tamenund  also  retired,  with  calm 
composure,  after  a  short  and  touching  interview  with 
Uncas ;  from  whom  the  sage  separated  with  the  reluc 
tance  that  a  parent  would  quit  a  long  lost  and  just  re 
covered  child.  In  the  meantime,  Duncan  saw  Alice  to 
a  place  of*  safety,  and  then  sought  the  scout,  with  a 
countenance  that  denoted  how  eagerly  he  also  panted  for 
the  approaching  contest. 

But  Hawkeye  was  too  much  accustomed  to  the  war- 
song  and  the  enlistments  of  the  natives,  to  betray  any 
interest  in  the  passing  scene.  He  merely  cast  an  occa 
sional  look  at  the  number  and  quality  of  the  warriors, 
who,  from  time  to  time,  signified  their  readiness  to  ac 
company  Uncas  to  the  field.  In  this  particular  he  was 
soon  satisfied;  for,  as  has  been  already  seen,  the  power 
of  the  young  chief  quickly  embraced  every  fighting  man 
in  the  nation.  After  this  material  point  was  so  satis 
factorily  decided,  he  despatched  an  Indian  boy  in  quest 
of  "  Killdeer  "  and  the  rifle  of  Uncas,  to  the  place  where 


47  8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

they  had  depositedthejyeapons  on  approaching  the  camp 
of  the  Delawaresrameasure  of  double  policy,  inasmuch 
as  it  protected  the  arms  from  their  own  fate,  if  detained 
as  prisoners,  and  gave  them  the  advantage  of  appearing 
among  the  strangers  ratfter  as  sufferers  than  as  men 
provided  with  the  means  of  defense  and  subsistence.  In 
selecting  another  to  perform  the  office  of  reclaiming  his 
highly  prized  rifle,  the  scout  had  lost  sight  of  none  of 
his  habitual  caution.  He  knew  that  Magua  had  not  come 
unattended,  and  he  also  knew  that  Huron  spies  watched 
the  movements  of  their  new  enemies,  along  the  whole 
boundary  of  the  woods.  It  would,  therefore,  have  been 
fatal  to  himself  to  have  attempted  the  experiment;  a 
warrior  would  have  fared  no  better;  but  the  danger  of 
a  boy  would  not  be  likely  to  commence  until  after  his 
object  was  discovered.  When  Heyward  joined  him,  thet 
scout  was  coolly  awaiting  the  result  of  this  experiment. 

The  boy,  who  had  been  well  instructed,  and  was-sruni- 
ciently  crafty,  proceeded,  with  a  bosom  that  was  swelling 
with  the  pride  of  such  a  confidence,  and  all  the  hopes  of 
young  ambition,  carelessly  across  the  clearing  to  the 
wood,  which  he  entered  at  a  point  at  some  little  distance 
from  the  place  where  the  guns  were  secreted./  The  in 
stant,  however,  he  was  concealed  by  the  foliage  of  the 
bushes,  his  dusky  form  was  to  be  seen  gliding,  like  that 
of  a  serpent,  towards  the  desired  treasure^  He  was  suc 
cessful  ;  and  in  another  moment  he  appeared  flying  across 
the  narrow  opening  that  skirted  the  base  of  the  terrace 
on  which  the  village  stood,  with  the  velocity  of  an  arrow, 
and  bearing  a  prize  in  each  hand.  He  had  actually 
gained  the  crags,  and  was  leaping  up  their  sides  with  in 
credible  activity,  when  a  shot  from  the  woods  showed 
how  accurate  had  been  the  judgment  of  the  scout.  The 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  479 

boy  answered  it  with  a  feeble  but  contemptuous  shout; 
and  immediately  a  second  bullet  was  sent  after  him  from 
another  part  of  the  cover.  At  the  next  instant  he  ap 
peared  on  the  level  above,  elevating  his  guns  in  triumph, 
while  he  moved  with  the  air  of  a  conqueror  towards  the 
renowned  hunter  who  had  honored  him  t>y  so  glorious  a 
commission. 

{Notwithstanding  the  lively  interest  Hawkeye  had  taken 
in  the  fate  of  his  messenger,  he  received  "  Killdeer  "  with 
a  satisfaction  that,  momentarily,  drove  all  other  recollec 
tions  from  his  mind.  After  examining  the  piece  with 
an  intelligent  eye,  and  opening  and  shutting  the  pan  some 
ten  or  fifteen  times,  and  trying  sundry  other  equally  im 
portant  experiments  on  the  lock,  he  turned  to  the  boy, 
and  demanded  with  great  manifestations  of  kindness,  if 
he  was  hurt.  The  urchin  looked  proudly  up  in  his  face, 
but  made  no  reply.  . 

"  Ah !  I  see,  lad,  the  knaves  have  barked  your  arm !  " 
added  the  scout,  taking  up  the  limb  of  the  patient  suf 
ferer,  across  which  a  deep  flesh  wound  had  been  made 
by  one  of  the  bullets ;  "  but  a  little  bruised  alder  will  act 
like  a  charm.  \In  the  meantime  I  will  wrap  it  in  a  badge 
of  wampum!  You  have  commenced  the  business  of  a 
warrior  early,  my  brave  boy,  and  are  likely  to  bear  a 
plenty  of  honorable  scars  to  your  gravej  I  know  many 
young  men  that  have  taken  scalps  who  cannot  show  such 
a  mark  as  this.  Go !  "  having  bound  up  the  arm ;  "  you 
will  be  a  chief !  " 

The  lad  departed,  prouder  of  his  flowing  blood  than 
the  vainest  courtier  could  be  of  his  blushing  ribbon ;  and 
stalked  among  the  fellows  of  his  age,  an  object  of  general 
admiration  and  envy. 

But  in  a  moment  of  so  many  serious  and  important 


480  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

duties,  this  single  act  of  juvenile  fortitude  did  not  attract 
the  general  notice  and  commendation  it  would  have  re 
ceived  under  milder  auspices.  It  had,  however,  served 
to  apprise  the  Delawares  of  the  position  and  the  inten 
tions  of  their  enemies.  Accordingly  a  party  of  adven 
turers,  better  suited  to  the  task  than  the  weak  though 
spirited  boy,  was  ordered  to  dislodge  the  skulkers.  The 
duty  was  soon  performed ;  for  most  of  the  Hurons  re 
tired  of  themselves  when  they  found  they  had  been  dis 
covered.  The  .Delawares  followed  to  a  sufficient  dis 
tance  from  their  own  encampment,  and  then  halted  for 
orders,  apprehensive  of  being  led  into  an  ambush.  As 
both  parties  secreted  themselves,  the  woods  were  again  as 
still  and  quiet  as  a  mild  summer  morning  and  deep  soli 
tude  could  render  them. 

The  calm  but  still  impatient  Uncas  now  collected  his 
chiefs,  and  divided  his  power.  V  He  presented  Hawkeye 
as  a  warrior,  often  tried,  and  always  found  deserving  of 
confidence.  When  he  found  his  friend  met  with  a  fa 
vorable  reception,  he  bestowed  on  him  the  command  of 
twenty  men,  like  himself,  active,  skilful,  and  resolute. 
He  gave  the  Delawares  to  understand  the  rank  of  Hey- 
ward  among  the  troops  of  the  Yengeese,  and  then  ten 
dered  to  him  a  trust  of  equal  authority.  But  Duncan 
declined  the  charge,  professing  his  readiness  to  serve  as 
a  volunteer  by  the  side  of  the  scout.  After  this  dis 
position,  the  young  MdTncan  appointed  various  native 
chiefs  to  fill  the  different  situations  of  responsibility,  and 
the  time  pressing,  he  gave  forth  the  word  to  march.  He 
was  cheerfully,  but  silently,  obeyed  by  more  than  two 
hundred  men. 

Their  entrance  into  the  forest  was  perfectly  unmo 
lested;  nor  did  they  encounter  any  living  objects,  that 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  481 

could  either  give  the  alarm,  or  furnish  the  intelligence 
they  needed,  until  they  came  upon  the  lairs  of  their  own 
scouts.  Here  a  halt  was  ordered,  and  the  chiefs  were 
assembled  to  hold  a  "  whispering  council." 

At  this  meeting  divers  plans  of  operation  were  sug 
gested,  though  none  of  a  character  to  meet  the  wishes 
of  their  ardent  leader.  Had  Uncas  followed  the  prompt 
ings  of  his  own  inclinations,  he  would  have  led  his  fol 
lowers  to  the  charge  without  a  moment's  delay,  and  put 
the  conflict  to  the  hazard  of  an  instant  issue;  but  such 
a  course  would  have  been  in  opposition  to  all  the  re 
ceived  practices  and  opinions  of  his  countrymen.  He 
was,  therefore,  fain  to  adopt  a  caution  that  in  the  present 
temper  of  his  mind  he  execrated,  and  to  listen  to  advice 
at  which  his  fiery  spirit  chafed,  under  the  vivid  ^collec 
tion  of  Cora's  danger  and  Magua's  insolence. 

After  an  unsatisfactory  conference  of  many  minutes, 
a  solitary  individual  was  seen  advancing  from  the  side 
of  the  enemy,  with  such  apparent  haste,  as  to  induce  the 
belief  he  might  be  a  messenger  charged  with  pacific  over 
tures.  When  within  a  hundred  yards,  however,  of  the 
cover  behind  which  the  Delaware  council  had  assembled, 
the  stranger  hesitated,  appeared  uncertain  what  course 
to  take,  and  finally  halted.  All  eyes  were  now  turned  on 
Uncas,  as  if  seeking  directions  how  to  proceed. 

"  Hawkeye,"  said  the  young  chief,  in  a  low  voice,  "  he 
must  never  speak  to  the  Hurons  again." 

"  His  time  has  come,"  said  the  laconic  scout,  thrusting 
the  long  barrel  of  his  rifle  through  the  leaves,  and  taking 
his  deliberate  and  fatal  aim.  But,  instead  of  pulling  the 
trigger  he  lowered  the  muzzle  again,  and  indulged  him 
self  in  a  fit  of  his  peculiar  mirth.  "  I  took  the  imp  for 
a  Mingo,  as  I'm  a  miserable  sinner !  "  he  said ;  "  but 


482  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

when  my  eye  ranged  along  his  ribs  for  a  place  to  get  the 
bullet  in — would  you  think  it,  Uncas — I  saw  the  mu- 
sicianer's  blower ;  and  so,  after  all,  it  is  the  man  they  call 
Gamut,  whose  death  can  profit  no  one,  and  whose  life, 
if  his  tongue  can  do  anything  but  sing,  may  be  made 
serviceable  to  our  own  ends.  If  sounds  have  not  lost 
their  virtue,  I'll  soon  have  a  discourse  with  the  honest 
fellow,  and  that  in  a  voice  he'll  find  more  agreeable  than 
the  speech  of  '  Killdeer.' ' 

So  saying,  Hawkeye  laid  aside  his  rifle;  and  crawling 
through  the  bushes  until  within  hearing  of  David,  he 
attempted  to  repeat  the  musical  effort,  which  had  con 
ducted  himself,  with  so  much  safety  and  eclat,  through 
the  Huron  encampment.  The  exquisite  organs  of  Gamut 
could  not  readily  be  deceived  (and,  to  say  the  truth,  it 
would  have  been  difficult  for  any  other  than  Hawkeye  to 
produce  a  similar  noise),  and  consequently,  having  once 
before  heard  the  sounds,  he  now  knew  whence  they  pro 
ceeded.  The  poor  fellow  appeared  relieved  from  a  state 
of  great  embarrassment;  for  pursuing  the  direction  of 
the  voice — a  task  that  to  him  was  not  much  less  arduous 
than  it  would  have  been  to  have  gone  up  in  the  face  of 
a  battery — he  soon  discovered  the  hidden  songster. 

"  I  wonder  what  the  Hurons  will  think  of  that !  "  said 
the  scout,  laughing,  as  he  took  his  companion  by  the 
arm,  and  urged  him  towards  the  rear.  "If  the  knaves  lie 
within  earshot,  they  will  say  there  are  two  non- 
compossers  instead  of  one!  But  here  we  are  safe,"  he 
added,  pointing  to  Uncas  and  his  associates.  "  Now  give 
us  the  history  of  the  Mingo  inventions  in  natural  Eng 
lish,  and  without  any  ups  and  downs  of  voice." 

David  gazed  about  him,  at  the  fierce  and  wild-looking 
chiefs,  in  mute  wonder;  but  assured  by  the  presence  of 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  483 

faces  that  he  knew,  he  soon  rallied  his  faculties  so  far 
as  to  make  an  intelligent  reply. 

"  The  heathen  are  abroad  in  goodly  numbers,"  said 
David,  "  and,  I  fear,  with  evil  intent.  There  has  been 
much  howling  and  ungodly  revelry,  together  with  such 
sounds  as  it  is  profanity  to  utter,  in  their  habitations 
within  the  past  hour;  so  much  so,  in  truth,  that  I  have 
fled  to  the  Delawares  in  search  of  peace." 

"  Your  ears  might  not  have  profited  much  by  the  ex 
change,  had  you  been  quicker  of  foot,"  returned  the 
scout,  a  little  dryly.  "  But  let  that  be  as  it  may ;  where 
are  the  Hurons  ?  " 

"  They  lie  hid  in  the  forest,  between  this  spot  and 
their  village,  in  such  force,  that  prudence  would  teach  you 
instantly  to  return." 

Uncas  cast  a  glance  along  the  range  of  trees  which 
concealed  his  own  band  and  mentioned  the  name  of— 

"Magua?" 

"  Is  among  them.  He  brought  in  the  maiden  that  had 
sojourned  with  the  Delawares,  and  leaving  her  in  the 
cave,  has  put  himself,  like  a  raging  wolf,  at  the  head 
of  his  savages.  I  know  not  what  has  troubled  his  spirit 
so  greatly !  " 

"  He  has  left  her,  you  say,  in  the  cave !  "  interrupted 
Heyward ;  "  'tis  well  that  we  know  its  situation !  May 
not  something  be  done  for  her  instant  relief?" 

Uncas  looked  earnestly  at  the  scout,  before  he  asked, — 

"What  says  Hawkeye?" 

"  Give  me  twenty  rifles,  and  I  will  turn  to  the  right, 
along  the  stream ;  and  passing  by  the  huts  of  the  beaver, 
will  join  the  Sagamore  and  the  colonel.  You  shall  then 
hear  the  whoop  from  that  quarter;  with  this  wind  one 
may  easily  send  it  a  mile.  Then,  Uncas,  do  you  drive 


484  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

in  their  front;  when  they  come  within  range  of  our 
pieces,  we  will  give  them  a  blow  that,  I  pledge  the  good 
name  of  an  old  frontiersman,  shall  make  their  line  bend 
like  an  ashen  bow.  After  which,  we  will  carry  their 
village,  and  take  the  woman  from  the  cave ;  when  the 
affair  may  be  finished  with  the  tribe,  according  to  a 
white  man's  battle,  by  a  blow  and  a  victory;  or,  in  the 
Indian  fashion,  with  dodge  and  cover.  There  may  be 
no  great  learning.  Major,  in  this  plan,  but  with  courage 
and  patience  it  can  all  be  done." 

"  I  like  it  much,"  cried  Duncan,  who  saw  the  release 
of  Cora  was  the  primary  object  in  the  mind  of  the  scout; 
"  I  like  it  much.  Let  it  be  instantly  attempted." 

After  a  short  conference,  the  plan  was  matured,  and 
rendered  more  intelligible  to  the  several  parties;  the  dif 
ferent  signals  were  appointed,  and  the  chiefs  separated, 
each  to  his  allotted  station. 


CHAPTER 
XXXII.    & 


11  But  plagues  shall  spread,  and  funeral  fires  increase, 
Till  the  great  king,  without  a  ransom  paid, 
To  her  own  Chrysa  send  the  black-eyed  maid." 

POPE. 


DURING  the  time  Uncas  was  making  this  disposi 
tion  of  his  forces,  the  woods  were  still,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  those  who  had  met  in  council,  appar 
ently  as  much  untenanted,  as  when  they  came  fresh  from 
the  hands  of  their  Almighty  Creator.  The  eye  could 
range,  in  every  direction,  through  the  long  and  shadowed 
vistas  of  the  trees;  but  nowhere  was  any  object  to  be 
seen  that  did  not  properly  belong  to  the  peaceful  and 
slumbering  scenery.  Here  and  there  a  bird  was  heard 
fluttering  among  the  branches  of  the  beeches,  and  occa 
sionally  a  squirrel  dropped  a  nut,  drawing  the  startled 
looks  of  the  party,  for  a  moment,  to  the  place;  but  the 
instant  the  casual  interruption  ceased,  the  passing  air  was 
heard  murmuring  above  their  heads,  along  that  verdant 
and  undulating  surface  of  forest,  which  spread  itself  un 
broken,  unless  by  stream  or  lake,  over  such  a  vast  region 
of  country.  Across  the  tract  of  wilderness,  which  lay 


486  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

between  the  Delawares  and  the  village  of  their  enemies, 
it  seemed  as  if  the  foot  of  man  had  never  trodden,  so 
breathing  and  deep  was  the  silence  in  which  it  lay. 
But  Hawkeye,  whose  duty  led  him  foremost  in  the 
adventure,  knew  the  character  of  those  with  whom  he 
was  about  to  contend  too  well  to  trust  the  treacherous 
quiet. 

When  he  saw  his  little  band  collected,  the  scout  threw 
"  Killdeer  "  into  the  hollow  of  his  arm,  and  making  a 
silent  signal  that  he  would  be  followed,  he  led  them 
many  rods  towards  the  rear,  into  the  bed  of  a  little  brook 
which  they  had  crossed  in  advancing.  Here  he  halted; 
and  after  waiting  for  the  whole  of  his  grave  and  atten 
tive  warriors  to  close  about  him,  he  spoke  in  Delaware, 
demanding — 

"  Do  any  of  my  young  men  know  whither  this  run 
will  lead  us?" 

A  Delaware  stretched  forth  a  hand,  with  the  two 
fingers  separated,  and  indicating  the  manner  in  which 
they  were  joined  at  the  root,  he  answered, — 

tl  Before  the  sun  could  go  his  own  length,  the  little 
water  will  be  in  the  big."  Then  he  added,  pointing  in 
the  direction  of  the  place  he  mentioned,  "  the  two  make 
enough  for  the  beavers." 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  returned  the  scout,  glancing  his 
eye  upwards  at  the  opening  in  the  tree-tops,  "  from  the 
course  it  takes,  and  the  bearings  of  the  mountains.  Men, 
we  will  keep  within  the  cover  of  its  banks  till  we  scent 
the  Hurons." 

His  companions  gave  the  usual  brief  exclamation  of 
assent,  but  perceiving  that  their  leader  was  about  to  lead 
the  way  in  person,  one  or  two  made  signs  that  all  was 
not  as  it  should  be.  Hawkeye,  who  comprehended  their 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  487 

meaning  glances,  turned,  and  perceived  that  his  party  had 
been  followed  thus  far  by  the  singing-master. 

"  Do  you  know,  friend,"  asked  the  scout  gravely,  and 
perhaps  with  a  little  of  the  pride  of  conscious  deserving 
in  his  manner,  "  that  this  is  a  band  of  rangers  chosen 
for  the  most  desperate  service,  and  put  under  the  com 
mand  of  one  who,  though  another  might  say  it  with  a 
better  face,  will  not  be  apt  to  leave  them  idle.  It  may 
not  be  five,  it  cannot  be  thirty  minutes  before  we  tread 
on  the  body  of  a  Huron,  living  or  dead." 

"  Though  not  admonished  of  your  intentions  in 
words,"  returned  David,  whose  face  was  a  little  flushed, 
and  whose  ordinarily  quiet  and  unmeaning  eyes  glim 
mered  with  an  expression  of  unusual  fire,  "  your  men 
have  reminded  me  of  the  children  of  Jacob  going  out  to 
battle  against  the  Shechemites,  for  wickedly  aspiring  to 
wedlock  with  a  woman  of  a  race  that  was  favored  of  the 
Lord.  Now,  I  have  journeyed  far,  and  sojourned  much 
in  good  and  evil  with  the  maiden  ye  seek ;  and  though  not 
a  man  of  war,  with  my  loins  girded  and  my  sword  sharp 
ened,  yet  would  I  gladly  strike  a  blow  in  her  behalf." 

The  scout  hesitated,  as  if  weighing  the  chances  of  such 
a  strange  enlistment  in  his  mind  before  he  answered, — 

"  You  know  not  the  use  of  any  we'pon.  You  carry  no 
rifle;  and  believe  me,  what  the  Mingos  take  they  will 
freely  give  again." 

"  Though  not  a  vaunting  and  bloodily  disposed  Go 
liath,"  returned  David,  drawing  a  sling  from  beneath  his 
parti-colored  and  uncouth  attire,  "  I  have  not  forgotten 
the  example  of  the  Jewish  boy.  With  this  ancient  in 
strument  of  war  have  I  practised  much  in  my  youth, 
and  peradventure  the  skill  has  not  entirely  departed 
from  me." 


488  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  Aye ! "  said  Hawkeye,  considering  the  deer-skin 
thong  and  apron,  with  a  cold  and  discouraging  eye ;  "  the 
thing  might  do  its  work  among  arrows,  or  even  knives ; 
but  these  Mengwe  have  been  furnished  by  the  Frenchers 
with  a  good  grooved  barrel  a  man.  However,  it  seems 
to  be  your  gift  to  go  unharmed  amid  fire;  and  as  you 
have  hitherto  been  favored — Major,  you  have  left  your 
rifle  at  a  cock;  a  single  shot  before  the  time  would  be 
just  twenty  scalps  lost  to  no  purpose — singer,  you  can 
follow ;  we  may  find  use  for  you  in  the  shoutings.'' 

"  I  thank  you,  friend,"  returned  David,  supplying 
himself,  like  his  royal  namesake,  from  among  the  peb 
bles  of  the  brook;  "though  not  given  to  the  desire  to 
kill,  had  you  sent  me  away  my  spirit  would  "have  been 
troubled." 

"  Remember,"  added  the  scout,  tapping  his  own  head 
significantly  on  that  spot  where  Gamut  was  yet  sore, 
"  we  come  to  fight,  and  not  to  musickate.  Until  the 
general  whoop  is  given,  nothing  speaks  but  the  rifle." 

David  nodded,  as  much  as  to  signify  his  acquiescence 
with  the  terms ;  and  then  Hawkeye,  casting  another  ob 
servant  glance  over  his  followers,  made  the  signal  to 
proceed. 

Their  route  lay,  for  the  distance  of  a  mile,  along  the 
bed  of  the  water-course.  Though  protected  from  any 
great  danger  of  observation  by  the  precipitous  banks,  and 
the  thick  shrubbery  which  skirted  the  stream,  no  precau 
tion  known  to  an  Indian  attack  was  neglected.  A  war 
rior  rather  crawled  than  walked  on  each  flank,  so  as  to 
catch  occasional  glimpses  into  the  forest;  and  every  few 
minutes  the  band  came  to  a  halt,  and  listened  for  hostile 
sounds,  with  an  acuteness  of  organs  that  would  be 
scarcelv  conceivable  to  a  man  in  a  less  natural  state. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  489 

Their  march  was,  however,  unmolested,  and  they  reached 
the  point  where  the  lesser  stream  was  lost  in  the  greater, 
without  the  smallest  evidence  that  their  progress  had 
been  noted.  Here  the  scout  again  halted,  to  consult  the 
signs  of  the  forest. 

"  We  are  likely  to  have  a  good  day  for  a  fight,"  he 
said,  in  English,  a4dressing  Heyward,  and  glancing  his 
eye  upwards  at  the  clouds,  which  began  to  move  in  broad 
sheets  across  the  firmament ;  "  a  bright  sun  and  a  glit 
tering  barrel  are  no  friends  to  true  sight.  Everything  is 
favorable;  they  have  the  wind,  which  will  bring  down 
their  noises  and  their  smoke  too,  no  little  matter  in  it 
self;  whereas,  with  us  it  will  be  first  a  shot,  and  then  a 
clear  view.  But  here  is  an  end  of  our  cover;  the  beavers 
have  had  the  range  of  this  stream  for  hundreds  of  years, 
and  what  atween  their  food  and  their  dams,  there 
is,  as  you  see,  many  a  girdled  stub,  but  few  living 
trees." 

Hawkeye  had,  in  truth,  in  these  few  words,  given  no 
bad  description  of  the  prospect  that  now  lay  in  their 
front.  The  brook  was  irregular  in  its  width,  sometimes 
shooting  through  narrow  fissures  in  the  rocks,  and  at 
others  spreading  over  acres  of  bottom  land,  forming  lit 
tle  areas  that  might  be  termed  ponds.  Everywhere  along 
its  banks  were  the  moldering  relics  of  dead  trees,  in  all 
the  stages  of  decay,  from  those  that  groaned  on  their 
tottering  trunks  to  such  as  had  recently  been  robbed  of 
those  rugged  coats  that  so  mysteriously  contain  their 
principle  of  life.  A  few  long,  low,  and  moss-covered 
piles  were  scattered  among  them  like  the  memorials  of 
a  former  and  long-departed  generation. 

All  these  minute  particulars  were  noted  by  the  scout, 
with  a  gravity  and  interest  that  they  probably  had  never 


49°  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

before  attracted.  He  knew  that  the  Huron  encampment 
lay  a  short  half-mile  up  the  brook;  and,  with  the  charac 
teristic  anxiety  of  one  who  dreaded  a  hidden  danger,  he 
was  greatly  troubled  at  not  rinding  the  smallest  trace 
of  the  presence  of  his  enemy.  Once  or  twice  he  felt 
induced  to  give  the  order  for  a  rush,  and  to  attempt  the 
village  by  surprise;  but  his  experience  quickly  admon 
ished  him  of  the  danger  of  so  useless  an  experiment. 
Then  he  listened  intently,  and  with  painful  uncertainty, 
for  the  sounds  of  hostility  in  the  quarter  where  Uncas 
was  left;  but  nothing  was  audible  except  the  sighing  of 
the  wind,  that  began  to  sweep  over  the  bosom  of  the 
forest  in  gusts  which  threatened  a  tempest.  At  length, 
yielding  rather  to  his  unusual  impatience  than  taking 
counsel  from  his  knowledge,  he  determined  to  bring  mat 
ters  to  an  issue,  by  unmasking  his  force,  and  proceeding 
cautiously,  but  steadily,  up  the  stream. 

The  scout  had  stood,  while  making  his  observations, 
sheltered  by  a  brake,  and  his  companions  still  lay  in  the 
bed  of  the  ravine,  through  which  the  smaller  stream  de 
bouched  ;  but  on  hearing  his  low,  though  intelligible  sig 
nal,  the  whole  party  stole  up  the  bank,  like  so  many  dark 
specters,  and  silently  arranged  themselves  around  him. 
Pointing  in  the  direction  he  wished  to  proceed,  Hawkeye 
advanced,  the  band  breaking  off  in  single  files,  and  fol 
lowing  so  accurately  in  his  footsteps,  as  if  to  leave  it, 
if  we  except  Heyward  and  David,  the  trail  of  but  a  sin 
gle  man. 

The  party  was,  however,  scarcely  uncovered  before  a 
volley  from  a  dozen  rifles  was  heard  in  their. rear;  and 
a  Delaware  leaping  high  into  the  air,  like  a  wounded  deer, 
fell  at  his  whole  length,  perfectly  dead. 

"Ah!  I' feared  some  deviltry  like  this!  "  exclaimed  the 


Last  of  the  Mohicans  491 

scout,  in  English;  adding,  with  the  quickness  of  thought, 
in  his  adopted  tongue,  "  To  cover,  men,  and  charge !  " 

The  band  dispersed  at  the  word,  and  before  Heyward 
had  well  recovered  from  his  surprise,  he  found  himself 
standing  alone  with  David.  Luckily,  the  Hurons  had 
already  fallen  back,  and  he  was  safe  from  their  fire.  But 
this  state  of  things  was  evidently  to  be  of  short  continu 
ance;  for  the  scout  set  the  example  of  pressing  on  their 
retreat,  by  discharging  his  rifle,  and  darting  from  tree 
to  tree,  as  his  enemy  slowly  yielded  ground. 

It  would  seem  that  the  assault  had  been  made  by  a  very 
small  party  of  the  Hurons,  which,  however,  continued  to 
increase  in  numbers,  as  it  retired  on  its  friends,  until  the 
return  fire  was  very  nearly,  if  not  quite,  equal  to  that 
maintained  by  the  advancing  Delawares.  Heyward  threw 
himself  among  the  combatants,  and  imitating  the  neces 
sary  caution  of  his  companions,  he  made  quick  dis 
charges  with  his  own  rifle.  The  contest  now  grew  warm 
and  stationary.  Few  were  injured,  as  both  parties  kept 
their  bodies  as  much  protected  as  possible  by  the  trees ; 
never,  indeed,  exposing  any  part  of  their  persons  except 
in  the  act  of  taking  aim.  But  the  chances  were  gradu 
ally  growing  unfavorable  to  Hawkeye  and  his  band.  The 
quick-sighted  scout  perceived  his  danger,  without  know 
ing  how  to  remedy  it.  He  saw  it  was  more  dangerous  to 
retreat  than  to -maintain  his  ground;  while  he  found  his 
enemy  throwing  out  men  on  his  flank,  which  rendered 
the  task  of  keeping  themselves  covered  so  very  difficult  to 
the  Delawares,  as  nearly  to  silence  their  fire.  At  this 
embarrassing  moment,  when  they  began  to  think  the 
whole  of  the  hostile  tribe  was  gradually  encircling  them, 
they  heard  the  yell  of  combatants,  and  the  rattling  of 
arms,  echoing  under  the  arches  of  the  wood,  at  the  place 


492  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

where  Uncas  was  posted;  a  bottom  which,  in  a  manner, 
lay  beneath  the  ground  on  which  Hawkeye  and  his  party 
were  contending. 

The  effects  of  this  attack  weie  instantaneous,  and  to 
the  scout  and  his  friends  greatly  relieving.  It  would  seem 
that,  while  his  own  surprise  had  been  anticipated,  and 
had  consequently  failed,  the  enemy,  in  their  turn,  hav 
ing  been  deceived  in  its  object  and  in  his  numbers,  had 
left  too  small  a  force  to  resist  the  impetuous  onset  of  the 
young  Mohican.  This  fact  was  doubly  apparent,  by  the 
rapid  manner  in  which  the  battle  in  the  forest  rolled  up 
wards  towards  the  village,  and  by  an  instant  falling  off 
in  the  number  of  their  assailants,  who  rushed  to  assist 
in  maintaining  the  front,  and,  as  it  now  proved  to  be, 
the  principal  point  of  defense. 

Animating  his  followers  by  his  voice,  and  his  own  ex 
ample,  Hawkeye  then  gave  the  word  to  bear  down  upon 
their  foes.  The  charge,  in  that  rude  species  of  warfare, 
consisted  merely  in  pushing  from  cover  to  cover,  nigher 
to  the  enemy ;  and  in  this  manceuver  he  was  instantly  and 
successfully  obeyed.  The  Hurons  were  compelled  to 
withdraw,  and  the  scene  of  the  contest  rapidly  changed 
from  the  more  open  ground  on  which  it  had  commenced, 
to  a  spot  where  the  assailed  found  a  thicket  to  rest  upon. 
Here  the  struggle  was  protracted,  arduous,  and  seem 
ingly  of  doubtful  issue;  the  Delawares,  though  none  of 
them  fell,  beginning  to  bleed  freely,  in  consequence  of 
the  disadvantage  at  which  they  were  held. 

In  this  crisis,  Hawkeye  found  means  to  get  behind  the 
same  tree  as  that  which  served  for  a  cover  to  Hey  ward ; 
most  of  his  own  combatants  being  within  call,  a  little 
on  his  right,  where  they  maintained  rapid;  though  fruit 
less,  discharges  on  their  sheltered  enemies. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  493 

"  You  are  a  young  man,  Major,"  said  the  scout,  drop 
ping  the  butt  of  "  Killdeer  "  to  the  earth,  and  leaning  on 
the  barrel,  a  little  fatigued  with  his  previous  industry; 
"  and  it  may  be  your  gift  to  lead  armies  at  some  future 
day  ag'in  these  imps  the  Mingos.  You  may  here  see 
the  philosophy  of  an  Indian  fight.  It  consists  mainly  in 
a  ready  hand,  a  quick  eye,  and  a  good  cover.  Now,  if 
you  had  a  company  of  the  Royal  Americans  here,  in 
what  manner  would  you  set  them  to  work  in  this 
business?  " 

"  The  bayonet  would  make  a  road." 

"  Aye,  there  is  white  reason  in  what  you  say ;  but  a 
man  must  ask  himself,  in  this  wilderness,  how  many  lives 
he  can  spare,  No — horse,"  *  continued  the  scout,  shaking 
his  head,  like  one  who  mused ;  "  horse,  I  am  ashamed  to 
say,  must,  sooner  or  later,  decide  these  skrimmages.  The 
brutes  are  better  than  men,  and  to  horse  must  we  come 
at  last.  Put  a  shodden  hoof  on  the  moccasin  of  a  red 
skin  ;  and  if  his  rifle  be  once  emptied,  he  will  never  stop 
to  load  it  again." 

"  This  is  a  subject  that  might  better  be  discussed  at 
another  time,"  returned  Heyward ;  "  shall  we  charge  ?  " 

1  The  American  forest  admits  of  the  passage  of  horse,  there 
being  little  underbrush,  and  few  tangled  brakes.  The  plan  of 
Hawkeye  is  the  one  which  has  always  proved  the  most  success 
ful  in  the  battles  between  the  whites  and  the  Indians.  Wayne, 
in  his  celebrated  campaign  on  the  Miami,  received  the  fire  of  his 
enemies  in  line;  and  then  causing"  his  dragoons  to  wheel  round 
his  flanks,  the  Indians  were  driven  from  their  covers  before 
they  had  time  to  load.  One  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the 
chiefs  who  fought  in  the  battle  of  Miami  assured  the  writer, 
that  the  redmen  could  not  fight  the  warriors  with  "  long  knives 
and  leather-stockings  " ;  meaning  the  dragoons  with  their  sabers 
and  boots. 


494  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

"  I  see  no  contradiction  to  the  gifts  of  any  man,  in 
passing  his  breathing  spells  in  useful  reflections,"  the 
scout  replied.  "  As  to  a  rush,  I  little  relish  such  a 
measure;  for  a  scalp  or  two  must  be  thrown  away  in 
tht  attempt.  And  yet,"  he  added,  bending  his  head  aside, 
to  catch  the  sounds  of  the  distant  combat,  "if  we  are  to 
be  of  use  to  Uncas,  these  knaves  in  our  front  must  be 
got  rid  of !  " 

Then  turning,  with  a  prompt  and  decided  air,  he  called 
aloud  to  his  Indians,  in  their  own  language.  His  words 
were  answered  by  a  shout;  and,  at  a  given  signal,  each 
warrior  made  a  swift  movement  around  his  particular 
tree.  The  sight  of  so  many  dark  bodies,  glancing  before 
their  eyes  at  the  same  instant,  drew  a  hasty,  and  conse 
quently  an  ineffectual  fire  from  the  Hurons.  Without 
stopping  to  breathe,  the  Delawares  leaped,  in  long 
bounds,  towards  the  wood,  like  so  many  panthers  spring 
ing  upon  their  prey.  Hawkeye  was  in  front,  brandish 
ing  his  terrible  rifle,  and  animating  his  followers  by  his 
example.  A  few  of  the  older  and  more  cunning  Hurons, 
who  had  not  been  deceived  by  the  artifice  which  had  been 
practised  to  draw  their  fire,  now  made  a  close  and  deadly 
discharge  of  their  pieces,  and  justified  the  apprehensions 
of  the  scout,  by  felling  three  of  his  foremost  warriors. 
But  the  shock  was  insufficient  to  repel  the  impetus  of  the 
charge.  The  Delawares  broke  into  the  cover  with  the 
ferocity  of  their  natures,  and  swept  away  every  trace 
of  resistance  by  the  fury  of  the  onset. 

The  combat  endured  only  for  an  instant,  hand  to  hand, 
and  then  the  assailed  yielded  ground  rapidly,  until  they 
reached  the  opposite  margin  of  the  thicket,  where  they 
clung  to  the  cover,  with  the  sort  of  obstinacy  that  is  so 
often  witnessed  in  hunted  brutes.  At  this  critical  mo- 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  495 

ment,  when  the  success  of  the  struggle  was  again  be 
coming  doubtful,  the  crack  of  the  rifle  was  heard  be 
hind  the  Hurons,  and  a  bullet  came  whizzing  from  among 
some  beaver-lodges,  which  were  situated  in  the  clearing, 
in  their  rear,  and  was  followed  by  the  fierce  and  appalling 
yell  of  the  war-whoop. 

"  There  speaks  the  Sagamore !  "  shouted  Hawkeye,  an 
swering  the  cry  with  his  own  stentorian  voice ;  "  we  have 
them  now  in  face  and  back !  " 

The  effect  on  the  Hurons  was  instantaneous.  Dis 
couraged  by  an  assault  from  a  quarter  that  left  them 
no  opportunity  for  cover,  their  warriors  uttered  a  com 
mon  yell  of  disappoinment,  and  breaking  off  in  a  body, 
they  spread  themselves  across  the  opening,  heedless  of 
every  consideration  but  flight.  Many  fell,  in  making  the 
experiment,  under  the  bullets  and  the  blows  of  the  pur 
suing  Delawares. 

We  shall  not  pause  to  detail  the  meeting  between  the 
scout  and  Chingachgook,  or  the  more  touching  interview 
that  Duncan  held  with  Munro.  A  few  brief  and  hurried 
words  served  to  explain  the  state  of  things  to  both  par 
ties;  and  then  Hawkeye,  pointing  out  the  Sagamore  to 
his  band,  resigned  the  chief  authority  into  the  hands  of 
the  Mohican  chief.  Chingachgook  assumed  the  station 
to  which  his  birth  and  experience  gave  him  so  distin 
guished  a  claim,  with  the  grave  dignity  that  always  gives 
force  to  the  mandates  of  a  native  warrior.  Following 
the  footsteps  of  the  scout,  he  led  the  party  back  through 
the  thicket,  his  men  scalping  the  fallen  Hurons,  and  se 
creting  the  bodies  of  their  own  dead  as  they  proceeded, 
until  they  gained  a  point  where  the  former  was  content 
to  make  a  halt. 

The  warriors,  who  had  breathed  themselves  freely  in 


496  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  preceding  struggle,  were  now  posted  on  a  bit  of  level 
ground,  sprinkled  with  trees  in  sufficient  numbers  to 
conceal  them.  The  land  fell  away  rather  precipitately 
in  front,  and  beneath  their  eyes  stretched,  for  several 
miles,  a  narrow,  dark,  and  wooded  vale.  It  was  through 
this  dense  and  dark  forest  that  Uncas  was  still  contend 
ing  with  the- main  body  of  the  Hurons. 

The  Mohican  and  his  friends  advanced  to  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  and  listened,  with  practised  ears,  to  the  sounds 
of  the  combat.  A  few  birds  hovered  over  the  leafy  bosom 
of  the  valley,  frightened  from  their  secluded  nests;  and 
here  and  there  a  light  vapory  cloud,  which  seemed  al 
ready  blending  with  the  atmosphere,  arose  above  the 
trees,  and  indicated  some  spot  where  the  struggle  had 
been  fierce  and  stationary. 

:t  The  fight  is  coming  up  the  ascent/'  said  Duncan, 
pointing  in  the  direction  of  a  new  explosion  of  firearms ; 
"  we  are  too  much  in  the  center  of  their  line  to  be 
effective." 

"  They  will  incline  into  the  hollow,  where  the  cover  is 
thicker,"  said  the  scout,  "  and  that  will  leave  us  well 
on  their  flank.  Go,  Sagamore ;  you  will  hardly  be  in 
time  to  give  the  whoop,  and  lead  on  the  young  men.  I 
will  fight  this  skrimniage  with  warriors  of  my  own  color. 
You  know  me,  Mohican;  not  a  Huron  of  them  all  shall 
cross  the  swell,  into  your  rear,  without  the  notice  of 
'  Killdeer.'  " 

The  Indian  chief  paused  another  moment  to  consider 
the  signs  of  the  contest,  which  was  now  rolling  rapidly 
up  the  ascent,  a  certain  evidence  that  the  Delawares  tri 
umphed;  nor  did  he  actually  quit  the  place  until  ad 
monished  of  the  proximity  of  his  friends,  as  well  as  ene 
mies,  by  the  bullets  of  the  former,  which  began  to  patter 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  497 

among  the  dried  leaves  on  the  ground,  like  the  bits  of 
falling  hail  which  precede  the  bursting  of  the  tempest. 
Hawkeye  and  his  three  companions  withdrew  a  few 
paces  to  a  shelter,  and  awaited  the  issue  with  calmness, 
that  nothing  but  great  practice  could  impart  in  such  a 
scene. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  reports  of  the  rifles  began 
to  lose  the  echoes  of  the  woods,  and  to  sound  like 
weapons  discharged  in  the  open  air.  Then  a  warrior 
appeared,  here  and  there,  driven  to  the  skirts  of  the 
forest,  and  rallying  as  he  entered  the  clearing,  as  at  the 
place  where  the  final  stand  was  to  be  made.  These  were 
soon  joined  by  the  others,  until  a  long  line  of  swarthy 
figures  was  to  be  seen  clinging  to  the  cover  with  the 
obstinacy  of  desperation.  Heyward  began  to  grow  im 
patient,  and  turned  his  eyes  anxiously  in  the  direction  of 
Chingachgook.  The  chief  was  seated  on  a  rock,  with 
nothing  visible  but  his  calm  visage,  considering  the  spec 
tacle  with  an  eye  as  deliberate  as  if  he  were  posted  there 
merely  to  view  the  struggle. 

"  The  time  is  come  for  the  Delawares  to  strike !  "  said 
Duncan. 

"  Not  so,  not  so,"  returned  the  scout ;  "  when  he  scents 
his  friends,  he  will  let  them  know  that  he  is  here.  See, 
see;  the  knaves  are  getting  in  that  clump  of  pines,  like 
bees  settling  after  their  flight.  By  the  Lord,  a  squaw 
might  put  a  bullet  into  the  center  of  such  a  knot  of  dark 
skins !  " 

At  that  instant  the  whoop  was  given,  and  a  dozen 
Hurons  fell  by  a  discharge  from  Chingachgook  and  his 
band.  The  shout  that  followed  was  answered  by  a 
single  war-cry  from  the  forest,  and  a  yell  passed  through 
the  air  that  sounded  as  if  a  thousand  throats  were  united 


49 8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

in  a  common  effort.  The  Hurons  staggered,  deserting  the 
center  of  their  line,  and  Uncas  issued  from  the  forest 
through  the  opening  they  left,  at  the  head  of  a  hundred 
warriors. 

Waving  his  hands  right  and  left,  the  young  chief 
pointed  out  the  enemy  to  his  followers,  who  separated 
in  pursuit.  The  war  now  divided,  both  wings  of  the 
broken  Hurons  seeking  protection  in  the  woods  again, 
hotly  pressed  by  the  victorious  warriors  of  the  Lenape. 
A  minute  might  have  passed,  but  the  sounds  were  al 
ready  receding  in  different  directions,  and  gradually  Jos- 
ing  their  distinctness  beneath  the  echoing  arches  of  the 
woods.  One  little  knot  of  Hurons,  however,  had  dis 
dained  to  seek  a  cover,  and  were  retiring,  like  lions  at 
bay,  slowly  and  sullenly  up  the  acclivity  which  Chingach- 
gook  and  his  band  had  just  deserted,  to  mingle  more 
closely  in  the  fray.  Magua  was  conspicuous  in  this 
party,  both  by  his  fierce  and  savage  mien,  and  by  the  air 
of  haughty  authority  he  yet  maintained. 

In  his  eagerness  to  expedite  the  pursuit,  Uncas  had 
left  himself  nearly  alone ;  but  the  moment  his  eyes  caught 
the  figure  of  Le  Subtil,  every  other  consideration  was 
forgotten.  Raising  his  cry  of  battle,  which  recalled  some 
six  or  seven  warriors,  and  reckless  of  the  disparity  of 
their  numbers,  he  rushed  upon  his  enemy.  Le  Renard, 
who  watched  the  movement,  paused  to  receive  him  with 
secret  joy.  But  at  the  moment  when  he  thought  the 
rashness  of  his  impetuous  young  assailant  had  left  him 
at  his  mercy,  another  shout  was  given,  and  La  Longue 
Carabine  was  seen  rushing  to  the  rescue,  attended  by  all 
his  white  associates.  The  Huron  instantly  turned,  and 
commenced  a  rapid  retreat  up  the  ascent. 

There  was  no  time  for  greetings  or  congratulations; 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  499 

for  Uncas,  though  conscious  of  the  presence  of  his 
friends,  continued  the  pursuit  with  the  velocity  of  the 
wind.  In  vain  Hawkeye  called  to  him  to  respect  the 
covers;  the  young  Mohican  braved  the  dangerous  fire  of 
his  enemies,  and  soon  compelled  them  to  a  flight  as  swift 
as  his  own  headlong  speed.  It  was  fortunate  that  the 
race  was  of  short  continuance,  and  that  the  white  men 
were  much  favored  by  their  position,  or  the  Delaware 
would  soon  have  outstripped  all  his  companions,  and 
fallen  a  victim  to  his  own  temerity.  But  ere  such  a  calam 
ity  could  happen,  the  pursuers  and  pursued  entered  the 
Wyandot  village,  within  striking  distance  of  each  other. 

Excited  by  the  presence  of  their  dwellings,  and  tired 
of  the  chase,  the  Hurons  now  made  a  stand,  and  fought 
around  their  council-lodge  with  the  fury  of  despair.  The 
onset  and  the  issue  were  like  the  passage  and  destruction 
of  a  whirlwind.  The  tomahawk  of  Uncas,  the  blows 
of  Hawkeye,  and  even  the  still  nervous  arm  of  Munro, 
were  all  busy  for  that  passing  moment,  and  the  ground 
was  quickly  strewed  with  their  enemies.  Still  Magua, 
though  daring  and  much  exposed,  escaped  from  every 
effort  against  his  life,  with  that  sort  of  fabled  protection 
that  was  made  to  overlook  the  fortunes  of  favored  heroes 
in  the  legends  of  ancient  poetry.  Raising  a  yell  that 
spoke  volumes  of  anger  and  disappointment,  the  subtle 
chief,  when  he  saw  his  comrades  fallen,  darted  away 
from  the  place,  attended  by  his  two  only  surviving 
friends,  leaving  the  Delawares  engaged  in  stripping  the 
dead  of  the  bloody  trophies  of  their  victory. 

But  Uncas,  who  had  vainly  sought  him  in  the  melee, 
bounded  forward  in  pursuit;  Hawkeye,  Heyward,  and 
David  still  pressing  on  his  footsteps.  The  utmost  that 
the  scout  could  effect,  was  to  keep  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle 


500  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

a  little  in  advance  of  his  friend,  to  whom,  however,  it 
answered  every  purpose  of  a  charmed  shield.  Once 
Magua  appeared  disposed  to  make  another  and  a  final 
effort  to  revenge  his  losses;  but,  abandoning  his  inten 
tion  as  soon  as  demonstrated,  he  leaped  into  a  thicket  of 
bushe^,  through  which  he  was  followed  by  his  enemies, 
and  suddenly  entered  the  mouth  of  the  cave  already 
known  to  the  reader.  Hawkeye,  who  had  only  forborne 
to  fire  in -tenderness  to  Uncas,  raised  a  shout  of  success, 
and  proclaimed  aloud,  that  now  they  were  certain  of  their 
game.  The  pursuers  dashed  into  the  long  and  narrow 
entrance,  in  time  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  retreating 
forms  of  the  Hurons.  Their  passage  through  the  nat 
ural  galleries  and  subterraneous  apartments  of  the  cav 
ern  was  preceded  by  the  shrieks  and  cries  of  hundreds 
of  women  and  children.  The  place,  seen  by  its  dim  and 
uncertain  light,  appeared  like  the  shades  of  the  infernal 
regions,  across  which  unhappy  ghosts  and  savage 
demons  were  flitting  in  multitudes. 

Still  Uncas  kept  his  eye  on  Magua,  as  if  life  to  him 
possessed  but  a  single  object.  Hey  ward  and  the  scout 
still  pressed  on  his  rear,  actuated,  though  possibly  in  a 
less  degree,  by  a  common  feeling.  But  their  way  was 
becoming  intricate,  in  those  dark  and  gloomy  passages, 
and  the  glimpses  of  the  retiring  warriors  less  distinct 
and  frequent;  and  for  a  moment  the  trace  was  believed 
to  be  lost,  when  a  white  robe  was  seen  fluttering  in  the 
farther  extremity  of  a  passage  that  seemed  to  lead  up 
the  mountain. 

:  'Tis  Cora !  "  exclaimed  Hey  ward,  in  a  voice  in  which 
horror  and  delight  were  wildly  mingled. 

"  Cora !  Cora !  "  echoed  Uncas,  bending  forward  like 
a  deer. 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  501 


1C    5' 


Tis  the  maiden !  "  shouted  the  scout.  "  Courage, 
lady ;  we  come ! — we  come !  " 

The  chase  was  renewed  with  a  diligence  rendered  ten 
fold  encouraging  by  this  glimpse  of  the  captive.  But 
the  way  was  rugged,  broken,  and  in  spots  nearly  im 
passable.  Uncas  abandoned  his  rifle,  and  leaped  forward 
with  headlong  precipitation.  Heyward  rashly  imitated 
his  example,  though  both  were,  a  moment  afterwards, 
admonished  of  its  madness,  by  hearing  the  bellowing  of 
a  piece,  that  the  Hurons  found  time  to  discharge  down 
the  passage  in  the  rocks,  the  bullet  from  which  even 
gave  the  young  Mohican  a  slight  wound. 

"  We  must  close !  "  said  the  scout,  passing  his  friends 
by  a  desperate  leap ;  "  the  knaves  will  pick  us  all  off  at 
this  distance;  and  see,  they  hold  the  maiden  so  as  to 
shield  themselves !  " 

Though  his  words  were  unheeded,  or  rather  unheard, 
his  example  was  followed  by  his  companions,  who,  by 
incredible  exertions,  got  near  enough  to  the  fugitives  to 
perceive  that  Cora  was  borne  along  between  the  two 
warriors,  while  Magua  prescribed  the  direction  and  man 
ner  of  their  flight.  At  this  moment  the  forms  of  all 
four  were  strongly  drawn  against  an  opening  in  the 
sky,  and  they  disappeared.  Nearly  frantic  with  disap 
pointment,  Uncas  and  Heyward  increased  efforts  that 
already  seemed  superhuman,  and  they  issued  from  the 
cavern  on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  in  time  to  note  the 
route  of  the  pursued.  The  course  lay  up  the  ascent,  and 
still  continued  hazardous  and  laborious. 

Encumbered  by  his  rifle,  and,  perhaps,  not  sustained 
by  so  deep  an  interest  in  the  captive  as  his  companions, 
the  scout  suffered  the  latter  to  precede  him  a  little, 
Uncas,  in  his  turn,  taking  the  lead  of  Heyward.  In  this 


502  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

manner,  rocks,  precipices,  and  difficulties  were  sur 
mounted  in  an  incredibly  short  space,  that  at  another 
time,  and  under  other  circumstances,  would  have  been 
deemed  almost  insuperable.  But  the  impetuous  young 
men  were  rewarded,  by  finding  that,  encumbered  with 
Cora,  the  Hurons  were  losing  ground  in  the  race. 

"  Stay,  dog  of  the  Wyandots !  "  exclaimed  Uncas, 
shaking  his  bright  tomahawk  at  Magua ;  "  a  Delaware 
girl  calls  stay !  " 

"  I  will  go  no  farther,"  cried  Cora,  stepping  unex 
pectedly  on  a  ledge  of  rocks,  that  overhung  a  deep  preci 
pice,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  summit  of  the  moun 
tain.  "  Kill  me  if  them  wilt,  detestable  Huron ;  I  will 
go  no  farther." 

The  supporters  of  the  maiden  raised  their  ready  toma 
hawks  with  the  impious  joy  that  fiends  are  thought  to 
take  in  mischief,  but  Magua  stayed  the  uplifted  arms. 
The  Huron  chief,  after  casting  -the  weapons  he  had 
wrested  from  his  companions  over  the  rock,  drew  his 
knife,  and  turned  to  his  captive,  with  a  look  in  which 
conflicting  passions  fiercely  contended. 

"  Woman,"  he  said,  "  choose ;  the  wigwam  or  the  knife 
of  Le  Subtil !  " 

Cora  regarded  him  not,  but  dropping  on  her  knees,  she 
raised  her  eyes  and  stretched  her  arms  towards  heaven, 
saying,  in  a  meek  and  yet  confiding  voice, — 

"  I  am  thine !  do  with  me  as  thou  seest  best !  " 

"  Woman,"  repeated  Magua,  hoarsely,  and  endeavor 
ing  in  vain  to  catch  a  glance  from  her  serene  and  beam 
ing  eye,  "  choose !  " 

But  Cora  neither  heard  nor  heeded  his  demand.  The 
form  of  the  Huron  trembled  in  every  fiber,  and  he  raised 
his  arm  on  high,  but  dropped  it  again  with  a  bewildered 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  503 

air,  like  one  who  doubted.  Once  more  he  struggled 
with  himself  and  lifted  the  keen  weapon  again;  but  just 
then  a  piercing  cry  was  heard  above  them,  and  Uncas 
appeared,  leaping  frantically,  from  a  fearful  height,  upon 
the  ledge.  Magua  recoiled  a  step;  and  one  of  his  as 
sistants,  profiting  by  the  chance,  sheathed  his  own  knife 
in  the  bosom  of  Cora. 

The  Huron  sprang  like  a  tiger  on  his  offending  and 
already  retreating  countryman,  but  the  falling  form  of 
Uncas  separated  the  unnatural  combatants.  Diverted 
from  his  object  by  this  interruption,  and  maddened  by 
the  murder  he  had  just  witnessed,  Magua  buried  his 
weapon  in  the  back  of  the  prostrate  Delaware,  uttering 
an  unearthly  shout  as  he  committed  the  dastardly  deed. 
But  Uncas  arose  from  the  blow,  as  the  wounded  panther 
turns  upon  his  foe,  and  struck  the  murderer  of  Cora  to 
his  feet,  by  an  effort  in  which  the  last  of  his  failing 
strength  was  expended.  Then,  with  a  stern  and  steady 
look,  he  turned  to  Le  Subtil,  and  indicated  by  the  ex 
pression  of  his  eye,  all  that  he  would  do,  had  not  the 
power  deserted  him.  The  latter  seized  the  nerveless  arm 
of  the  unresisting  Delaware,  and  passed  his  knife  into 
his  bosom  three  several  times,  before  his  victim,  still 
keeping  his  gaze  riveted  on  his  enemy  with  a  look  of 
inextinguishable  scorn,  fell  dead  at  his  feet. 

"  Mercy !  mercy !  Huron,"  cried  Heyward,  from  above, 
in  tones  nearly  choked  by  horror ;  "  give  mercy,  and  thou 
shalt  receive  it !  " 

Whirling  the  bloody  knife  up  at  the  imploring  youth, 
the  victorious  Magua  uttered  a  cry  so  fierce,  so  wild,  and 
yet  so  joyous,  that  it  conveyed  the  sounds  of  savage 
triumph  to  the  ears  of  those  who  fought  in  the  valley,  a 
thousand  feet  below.  He  was  answered  by  a  burst  from 


504  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

the  lips  of  the  scout,  whose  tall  person  was  just  then 
seen  moving  swiftly  towards  him,  along  those  dangerous 
crags,  with  steps  as  bold  and  reckless  as  if  he  possessed 
the  power  to  move  in  air.  But  when  the  hunter  reached 
the  scene  of  the  ruthless  massacre,  the  ledge  was  ten 
anted  only  by  the  dead. 

His  keen  eye  took  a  single  look  at  the  victims,  and  then 
shot  its  glances  over  the  difficulties  of  the  ascent  in  his 
front.  A  form  stood  at  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  on 
the  very  edge  of  the  giddy  height,  with  uplifted  arms,  in 
an  awful  attitude  of  menace.  Without  stopping  to  con 
sider  his  person,  the  rifle  of  Hawkeye  was  raised;  but 
a  rock,  which  fell  on  the  head  of  one  of  the  fugitives 
below,  exposed  the  indignant  and  glowing  countenance 
of  the  honest  Gamut.  Then  Magua  issued  from  a  crev 
ice,  and  stepping  with  calm  indifference  over  the  body 
of  the  last  of  his  associates,  he  leaped  a  wide  fissure,  and 
ascended  the  rocks  at  a  point  where  the  arm  of  David 
could  not  reach  him.  A  single  bound  would  carry  him 
to  the  brow  of  the  precipice,  and  assure  his  safety.  Be 
fore  taking  the  leap,  however,  the  Huron  paused,  and 
shaking  his  hand  at  the  scout,  he  shouted, — 

"  The  pale-faces  are  dogs !  the  Delawares  women ! 
Magua  leaves  them  on  the  rocks,  for  the  crows !  " 

Laughing  hoarsely,  he  made  a  desperate  leap,  and  fell 
short  of  his  mark ;  though  his  hand  grasped  a  shrub  on 
the  verge  of  the  height.  The  form  of  Hawkeye  had 
crouched  like  a  beast  about  to  take  its  spring,  and  his 
frame  trembled  so  violently  with  eagerness,  that  the  muz 
zle  of  the  half-raised  rifle  played  like  a  leaf  fluttering  in 
the  wind.  Without  exhausting  himself  with  fruitless 
efforts,  the  cunning  Magua  suffered  his  body  to  drop  to 
the  length  of  his  arms,  and  found  a  fragment  for  his 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  505 

feet  to  rest  on.  Then  summoning  all  his  powers,  he 
renewed  the  attempt,  and  so  far  succeeded,  as  to  draw 
his  knees  on  the  edge  of  the  mountain.  It  was  now, 
when  the  body  of  his  enemy  was  most  collected  together, 
that  the  agitated  weapon  of  the  scout  was  drawn  to  his 
shoulder.  The  surrounding  rocks  themselves  were  not 
steadier  than  the  piece  became,  for  the  single  instant  that 
it  poured  out  its  contents.  The  arms  of  the  Huron  re 
laxed,  and  his  body  fell  back  a  little,  while  his  knees  still 
kept  their  position.  Turning  a  relentless  look  on  his 
enemy,  he  shook  a  hand  in  grim  defiance.  But  his  hold 
loosened,  and  his  dark  person  was  seen  cutting  the  air 
with  its  head  downwards,  for  a  fleeting  instant,  until  it 
glided  past  the  fringe  of  shrubbery  which  clung  to  the 
mountain,  in  its  rapid  flight  to  destruction. 


CHAPTER 
XXXIII.  & 


"  They  fought,  like  brave  men,  long  and  well, 

They  piled  that  ground  with  Moslem  slain, 
They  conquered — but  Bozzaris  fell, 

Bleeding  at  every  vein. 
His  few  surviving  comrades  saw 
His  smile  when  rang  their  proud  hurrah, 

And  the  red  field  was  won ; 
Then  saw  in  death  his  eyelids  close 
Calmly,  as  to  a  night's  repose, 

Like  flowers  at  set  of  sun." 

HALLECK. 


THE  sun  found  the  Lenape,  on  the  succeeding  day, 
a  nation  of  mourners.  The  sounds  of  the  battle 
were  over,  and  they  had  fed  fat  their  ancient  grudge, 
and  had  avenged  their  recent  quarrel  with  the  Mengwe, 
by  the  destruction  of  a  whole  community.  The  black 
and  murky  atmosphere  that  floated  around  the  spot 
where  the  Hurons  had  encamped,  sufficiently  announced, 
of  itself,  the  fate  of  that  wandering  tribe;  while  hun 
dreds  of  ravens,  that  struggled  above  the  bleak  summits 
of  the  mountains,  or  swept,  in  noisy  flocks,  across  the 
wide  ranges  of  the  woods,  furnished  a  frightful  direc- 

506 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  507 

tion  to  the  scene  of  the  combat.  In  short,  any  eye,  at 
all  practised  in  the  signs  of  a  frontier  warfare,  might 
easily  have  traced  all  those  unerring  evidences  of  the 
ruthless  results  which  attend  an  Indian  vengeance. 

Still,  the  sun  rose  on  the  Lenape  a  nation  of  mourners. 
No  shouts  of  success,  no  songs  of  triumph,  were  heard, 
in  rejoicings  for  their  victory.  The  latest  straggler  had 
returned  from  his  fell  employment,  only  to  strip  himself 
of  the  terrific  emblems  of  his  bloody  calling,  and  to  join 
in  the  lamentations  of  his  countrymen,  as  a  stricken  peo 
ple.  Pride  and  exultation  were  supplanted 'by  humility, 
and  the  fiercest  of  human  passions  was  already  succeeded 
by  the  most  profound  and  unequivocal  demonstrations  of 
grief. 

The  lodges  were  deserted;  but  a  broad  belt  of  earnest 
faces  encircled  a  spot  in  their  vicinity,  whither  every 
thing  possessing  life  had  repaired,  and  where  all  were 
now  collected,  in  deep  and  awful  silence.  Though  be 
ings  of  every  rank  and  age,  of  both  sexes,  and  of  all  pur 
suits,  had  united  to  form  this  breathing  wall  of  bodies, 
they  were  influenced  by  a  single  emotion.  Each  eye  was 
riveted  on  the  center  of  that  ring,  which  contained  the 
objects  of  so  much,  and  of  so  common,  an  interest. 

Six  Delaware  girls,  with  their  long,  dark,  flowing 
tresses  falling  loosely  across  their  bosoms,  stood  apart, 
and  only  gave  proofs  of  their  existence  as  they  occa 
sionally  strewed  sweet-scented  herbs  and  forest  flowers 
on  a  litter  of  fragrant  plants,  that,  under  a  pall  of  Indian 
robes,  supported  all  that  now  remained  of  the  ardent, 
high-souled,  and  generous  Cora.  Her  form  was  con 
cealed  in  many  wrappers  of  the  same  simple  manufac 
ture,  and  her  face  was  shut  forever  from  the  gaze  of 
men.  At  her  feet  was  seated  the  desolate  Munro.  His 


508  •  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

aged  head  was  bowed  nearly  to  the  earth,  in  compelled 
submission  to  the  stroke  of  Providence;  but  a  hidden 
anguish  struggled  about  his  furrowed  brow,  that  was 
only  partially  concealed  by  the  careless  locks  of  gray 
that  had  fallen,  neglected,  on  his  temples.  Gamut  stood 
at  his  side,  his  meek  head  bared  to  the  rays  of  the  sun, 
while  his  eyes,  wandering  and  concerned,  seemed  to  be 
equally  divided  between  that  little  volume,  which  con 
tained  so  many  quaint  but  holy  maxims,  and  the  being 
in  whose  behalf  his  soul  yearned  to  administer  conso 
lation.  Heyward  was  also  nigh,  supporting  himself 
against  a  tree,  and  endeavoring  to  keep  down  those  sud 
den  risings  of  sorrow  that  it  required  his  utmost  man 
hood  to  subdue. 

But  sad  and  melancholy  as  this  group  may  easily  be 
imagined,  it  was  far  less  touching  than  another,  that 
occupied  the  opposite  space  of  the  same  area.  Seated, 
as  in  life,  with  his  form  and  limbs  arranged  in  grave  and 
decent  composure,  Uncas  appeared,  arrayed  in  the  most 
gorgeous  ornaments  that  the  wealth  of  the  tribe  could 
furnish.  Rich  plumes  nodded  above  his  head;  wampum, 
gorgets,  bracelets,  and  medals,  adorned  his  person  in 
profusion ;  though  his  dull  eye  and  vacant  lineaments  too 
strongly  contradicted  the  idle  tale  of  pride  they  would 
convey. 

Directly  in  front  of  the  corpse  Chingachgook  was 
placed,  without  arms,  paint,  or  adornment  of  any  sort, 
except  the  bright  blue  blazonry  of  his  race,  that  was  in 
delibly  impressed  on  his  naked  bosom.  During  the  long 
period  that  the  tribe  had  been  thus  collected,  the  Mo 
hican  warrior  had  kept  a  steady,  anxious  look  on  the 
cold  and  senseless  countenance  of  his  son.  So  riveted 
and  intense  had  been  that  gaze,  and  so  changeless  his 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  509 

attitude,  that  a  stranger  might  not  have  told  the  living 
from  the  dead,  but  for  the  occasional  gleamings  of  a 
troubled  spirit  that  shot  athwart  the  dark  visage  of  one, 
and  the  death-like  calm  that  had  forever  settled  on  the 
lineaments  of  the  other. 

The  scout  was  hard  by,  leaning  in  a  pensive  posture 
on  his  own  fatal  and  avenging  weapon;  while  Tame- 
nund,  supported  by  the  elders  of  his  nation,  occupied  a 
high  place  at  hand,  whence  he  might  look  down  on  the 
mute  and  sorrowful  assemblage  of  his  people. 

Just  within  the  inner  edge  of  the  circle  stood  a  soldier, 
in  the  military  attire  of  a  strange  nation ;  and  without 
it  was  his  war-horse,  in  the  center  of  a  collection  of 
mounted  domestics,  seemingly  in  readiness  to  under 
take  some  distant  journey.  The  vestments  of  the 
stranger  announced  him  to  be  one  who  held  a  responsi 
ble  situation  near  the  person  of  the  captain  of  the  Can- 
adas;  and  who,  as  it  would  now  seem,  finding  his  errand 
of  peace  frustrated  by  the  fierce  impetuosity  of  his  al 
lies,  was  content  to  become  a  silent  and  sad  spectator 
of  the  fruits  of  a  contest  that  he  had  arrived  too  late 
to  anticipate. 

The  day  was  drawing  to  the  close  of  its  first  quarter, 
and  yet  had  the  multitude  maintained  its  breathing  still 
ness  since  its  dawn.  No  sound  louder  than  a  stifled  sob 
had  been  heard  among  them,  nor  had  even  a  limb  been 
moved  throughout  that  long  and  painful  period,  except 
to  perform  the  simple  and  touching  offerings  that  were 
made,  from  time  to  time,  in  commemoration  of  the  dead. 
The  patience  and  forbearance  of  Indian  fortitude  could 
alone  support  such  an  appearance  of  abstraction,  as 
seemed  now  to  have  turned  each  dark  and  motionless 
figure  into  stone. 


5io  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

At  length,  the  sage  of  the  Delawares  stretched  forth 
an  arm,  and  leaning  on  the  shoulders  of  his  attendants, 
he  arose  with  an  air  as  feeble  as  if  another  age  had 
already  intervened  between  the  man  who  had  met  his 
nation  the  preceding  day,  and  him  who  now  tottered  on 
his  elevated  stand. 

"  Men  of  the  Lenape !  "  he  said,  in  hollow  tones  that 
sounded  like  a  voice  charged  with  some  prophetic  mis 
sion  ;  "  the  face  of  the  Manitou  is  behind  a  cloud !  his 
eye  is  turned  from  you;  his  ears  are  shut;  his  tongue 
gives  no  answer.  You  see  Him  not;  yet  his  judgments 
are  before  you.  Let  your  hearts  be  open  and  your  spirits 
tell  no  lie.  Men  of  the  Lenape !  the  face  of  the  Manitou 
is  behind  a  cloud." 

As  this  simple  and  yet  terrible  annunciation  stole  on 
the  ears  of  the  multitude,  a  stillness  as  deep  and  awful 
succeeded  as  if  the  venerated  spirit  they  worshiped  had 
uttered  the  words  without  the  aid  of  human  organs ;  and 
even  the  inanimate  Uncas  appeared  a  being  of  life,  com 
pared  with  the  humbled  and  submissive  throng  by  whom 
he  was  surrounded.  As  the  immediate  effect,  however, 
gradually  passed  away,  a  low  murmur  of  voices  com 
menced  a  sort  of  chant  in  honor  of  the  dead.  The 
sounds  were  those  of  females,  and  were  thrillingly  soft 
and  wailing.  The  words  were  connected  by  no  regular 
continuation,  but  as  one  ceased  another  took  up  the 
eulogy,  or  lamentation,  whichever  it  might  be  called, 
and  gave  vent  to  her  emotions  in  such  language  as  was 
suggested  by  her  feelings  and  the  occasion.  At  intervals 
the  speaker  was  interrupted  by  general  and  loud  bursts 
of  sorrow,  during  which  the  girls  around  the  bier  of 
Cora  plucked  the  plants  and  flowers  blindly  from  her 
"body,  as  if  bewildered  with  grief.  But,  in  the  milder 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  5 1 1 

moments  of  their  plaint,  these  emblems  of  purity  and 
sweetness  were  cast  back  to  their  places,  with  every  sign 
of  tenderness  and  regret.  Though  rendered  less  con 
nected  by  many  and  general  interruptions  and  outbreak- 
ings,  a  translation  of  their  language  would  have  con 
tained  a  regular  descant,  which,  in  substance,  might  have 
proved  to  possess  a  train  of  consecutive  ideas. 

A  girl,  selected  for  the  task  by  her  rank  and  qualifica 
tions,  commenced  by  modest  allusions  to  the  qualities  of 
the  deceased  warrior,  embellishing  her  expressions  with 
those  oriental  images  that  the  Indians  have  probably 
brought  with  them  from  the  extremes  of  the  other  con 
tinent,  and  which  form  of  themselves  a  link  to  connect 
the  ancient  histories  of  the  two  worlds.  She  called  him 
the  "  panther  of  his  tribe  " ;  and  described  him  as  one 
whose,  moccasin  left  no  trail  on  the  dews ;  whose  bound 
was  like  the  leap  of  the  young  fawn ;  whose  eye  was 
brighter  than  a  star  in  the  dark  night ;  and  whose  voice, 
in  battle,  was  loud  as  the  thunder  of  the  Manitou.  She 
reminded  him  of  the  mother  who  bore  him,  and  dwelt 
forcibly  on  the  happiness  she  must  feel  in  possessing  such 
a  son.  She  bade  him  tell  her,  when  they  met  in  the 
world  of  spirits,  that  the  Delaware  girls  had  shed  tears 
above  the  grave  of  her  child,  and  had  called  her  blessed. 

Then,  they  who  succeeded,  changing  their  tones  to  a 
milder  and  still  more  tender  strain,  alluded,  with  the 
delicacy  and  sensitiveness  of  woman,  to  the  stranger 
maiden,  who  had  left  the  upper  earth  at  a  time  so  near 
his  own  departure,  as  to  render  the  will  of  the  Great 
Spirit  too  manifest  to  be  disregarded.  They  admonished 
him  to  be  kind  to  her,  and  to  have  consideration  for 
her  ignorance  of  those  arts  which  were  so  necessary 
to  the  comfort  of  a  warrior  like  himself.  They  dwelt 


512  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

upon  her  matchless  beauty,  and  on  her  noble  resolution, 
without  the  taint  of  envy,  and  as  angels  may  be  thought 
to  delight  in  a  superior  excellence;  adding,  that  these 
endowments  should  prove  more  than  equivalent  for  any 
little  imperfections  in  her  education. 

After  which,  others  again,  in  due  succession,  spoke  to 
the  maiden  herself,  in  the  low,  soft  language  of  tender 
ness  and  love.  They  exhorted  her  to  be  of  cheerful 
mind,  and  to  fear  nothing  for  future  welfare.  A  hunter 
would  be  her  companion,  who  knew  how  to  provide  for 
her  smallest  wants;  and  a  warrior  was  at  her  side  who 
was  able  to  protect  her  against  every  danger.  They 
promised  that  her  path  should  be  pleasant,  and  her  bur 
den  light.  They  cautioned  her  against  unavailing  re 
grets  for  the  friends  of  her  youth,  and  the  scenes  where 
her  fathers  had  dwelt ;  assuring  her  that  the  "  blessed 
hunting-grounds  of  the  Lenape "  contained  vales  as 
pleasant,  streams  as  pure,  and  flowers  as  sweet,  as  the 
"  heaven  of  the  pale-faces."  They  advised  her  to  be 
attentive  to  the  wants  of  her  companion,  and  never  for 
get  the  distinction  which  the  Manitou  had  so  wisely  es 
tablished  between  them.  -Then,  in  a  wild  burst  of  their 
chant,  they  sang  with  united  voices  the  temper  of  the 
Mohican's  mind.  They  pronounced  him  noble,  manly, 
and  generous;  all  that  became  a  warrior,  and  all  that  a 
maid  might  love.  Clothing  their  ideas  in  the  most  re 
mote  and  subtle  images,  they  betrayed,  that,  in  the  short 
period  of  their  intercourse,  they  had  discovered,  with 
the  intuitive  perception  of  their  sex,  the  truant  disposi 
tion  of  his  inclinations.  The  Delaware  girls  had  found 
no  favor  in  his  eyes!  He  was  of  a  race  that  had  once 
been  lords  on  the  shores  of  the  salt  lake,  and  his  wishes 
had  led  him  back  to  a  people  who  dwelt  about  the  graves 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  513 

of  his  fathers.  Why  should  not  such  a  predilection  be 
encouraged!  That  she  was  of  a  blood  purer  and  richer 
than  the  rest  of  her  nation,  any  eye  might  have  seen; 
that  she  was  equal  to  the  dangers  and  daring  of  a  life 
in  the  woods,  her  conduct  had  proved;  and  now,  they 
added,  the  "  wise  one  of  the  earth  "  had  transplanted  her 
to  a  place  where  she  would  find  congenial  spirits,  and 
might  be  forever  happy. 

Then,  with  another  transition  in  voice  and  subject, 
allusions  were  made  to  the  virgin  who  wept  in  the  adja 
cent  lodge.  They  compared  her  to  flakes  of  snow ;  as 
pure,  as  white,  as  brilliant,  and  as  liable  to  melt  in  the 
fierce  heats  of  summer,  or  congeal  in  the  frosts  of  win 
ter.  They  doubted  not  that  she  was  lovely  in  the  eyes 
of  the  young  chief,  whose  skin  and  whose  sorrow  seemed 
so  like  her  own;  but,  though  far  from  expressing  such 
a  preference,  it  was  evident  they  deemed  her  less  excel 
lent  than  the  maid  they  mourned.  Still  they  denied  her 
no  meed  her  rare  charms  might  properly  claim.  Her 
ringlets  were  compared  to  the  exuberant  tendrils  of  the 
vine,  her  eye  to  the  blue  vault  of  the  heavens,  and  the 
most  spotless  cloud,  with  its  glowing  flush  of  the  sun, 
was  admitted  to  be  less  attractive  than  her  bloom. 

During  these  and  similar  songs  nothing  was  audible 
but  the  murmurs  of  the  music ;  relieved,  as  it  was,  or 
rather  rendered  terrible,  by  those  occasional  bursts  of 
grief  which  migh*  be  called  its  choruses.  The  Delawares 
themselves  listened  like  charmed  men;  and  it  was  very 
apparent,  by  the  variations  of  their  speaking  counte 
nances,  how  deep  and  true  was  their  sympathy.  Even 
David  was  not  reluctant  to  lend  his  ears  to  tones  of 
voices  so  sweet;  and  long  ere  the  chant  was  ended,  his 
gaze  announced  that  his  soul  was  enthralled. 


514  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

The  scout,  to  whom  alone,  of  all  the  white  men,  the 
words  were  intelligible,  suffered  himself  to  be  a  little 
aroused  from  his  meditative  posture,  and  bent  his  face 
aside,  to  catch  their  meaning,  as  the  girls  proceeded.  But 
when  they  spoke  of  the  future  prospects  of  Cora  and 
Uncas,  he  shook  his  head,  like  one  who  knew  the  error 
of  their  simple  creed,  and  resuming  his  reclining  atti 
tude,  he  maintained  it  until  the  ceremony — if  that  might 
be  called  a  ceremony,  in  which  feeling  was  so  deeply 
imbued — was  finished.  Happily  for  the  self-command 
of  both  Heyward  and  Munro,  they  knew  not  the  mean 
ing  of  the  wild  sounds  they  heard. 

Chingachgook  was  a  solitary  exception  to  the  interest 
manifested  by  the  native  part  of  the  audience.  His  look 
never  changed  throughout  the  whole  of  the  scene,  nor 
did  a  muscle  move  in  his  rigid  countenance,  even  at  the 
wildest  or  the  most  pathetic  parts  of  the  lamentation. 
The  cold  and  senseless  remains  of  his  son  was  all  to 
him,  and  every  other  sense  but  that  of  sight  seemed 
frozen,  in  order  that  his  eyes  might  take  their  final  gaze 
at  those  lineaments  he  had  so  long  loved,  and  which 
were  now  about  to  be  closed  forever  from  his 
view. 

In  this  stage  of  the  funeral  obsequies,  a  warrior  much 
renowned  for  deeds  in  arms,  and  more  especially  for 
services  in  the  recent  combat,  a  man  of  stern  and  grave 
demeanor,  advanced  slowly  from  the  csowd,  and  placed 
himself  nigh  the  person  of  the  dead. 

"  Why  hast  thou  left  us,  pride  of  the  Wapanachki  ?  " 
he  said,  addressing  himself  to  the  dull  ears  of  Uncas, 
as  if  the  empty  clay  retained  the  faculties  of  the  ani 
mated  man ;  "  thy  time  has  been  like  that  of  the  sun 
when  in  the  trees;  thy  glory  brighter  than  his  light  at 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  515 

noonday.  Thou  art  gone,  youthful  warrior,  but  a  hun 
dred  Wyandots  are  clearing  the  briers  from  thy  path 
to  the  world  of  spirits.  Who  that  saw  thee  in  battle 
would  believe  that  thou  couldst  die?  Who  before  thee 
has  ever  shown  Uttawa  the  way  into  the  fight?  Thy 
feet  were  like  the  wings  of  eagles ;  thine  arm  heavier  than 
falling  branches  from  the  pine;  and  thy  voice  like  the 
Manitou  when  he  speaks  in  the  clouds.  The  tongue  of 
Uttawa  is  weak,"  he  added,  looking  about  him  with  a 
melancholy  gaze,  "  and  his  heart  exceeding  heavy. 
Pride  of  the  Wapanachki,  why  hast  thou  left 
us?", 

He  was  succeeded  by  others,  in  due  order,  until  most 
of  the  high  and  gifted  men  of  the  nation  had  sung  or 
spoken  their  tribute  of  praise  over  the  manes  of  the  de 
ceased  chief.  When  each  had  ended,  another  deep  and 
breathing  silence  reigned  in  all  the  place. 

Then  a  low,  deep  sound  was  heard,  like  the  suppressed 
accompaniment  of  distant  music,  rising  just  high  enough 
on  the  air  to  be  audible,  and  yet  so  indistinctly,  as  to 
leave  its  character,  and  the  place  whence  it  proceeded, 
alike  matters  of  conjecture.  It  was,  however,  succeeded 
by  another  and  another  strain,  each  in  a  higher  key, 
until  they  grew  on  the  ear,  first  in  long  drawn  and  often 
repeated  interjections,  and  finally  in  words.  The  lips  of 
Chingachgook  had  so  far  parted,  as  to  announce  that 
it  was  the  monody  of  the  father.  Though  not  an  eye 
was  turned  towards  him,  nor  the  smallest  sign  of  impa 
tience  exhibited,  it  was  apparent,  by  the  manner  in  which 
the  multitude  elevated  their  heads  to  listen,  that  they 
drank  in  the  sounds  with  an  intenseness  of  attention, 
that  none  but  Tamenund  himself  had  ever  before  com 
manded.  But  they  listened  in  vain.  The  strains  rose 


516  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

just  so  loud  as  to  become  intelligible,  and  then  grew 
fainter  and  more  trembling,  until  they  finally  sank  on 
the  ear,  as  if  borne  away  by  a  passing  breath  of  wind. 
The  lips  of  the  Sagamore  closed,  and  he  remained  silent 
in  his  seat,  looking,  with  his  riveted  eye  and  motionless 
form,  like  some  creature  that  had  been  turned  from  the 
Almighty  hand  with  the  form  but  without  the  spirit  of 
a  man.  The  Delawares,  who  knew  by  these  symptoms 
that  the  mind  of  their  friend  was  not  prepared  for  so 
mighty  an  effort  of  fortitude,  relaxed  in  their  attention; 
and,  with  an  innate  delicacy,  seemed  to  bestow  all  their 
thoughts  on  the  obsequies  of  the  stranger  maiden. 

A  signal  was  given,  by  one  of  the  elder  chiefs,  to  the 
women  who  crowded  that  part  of  the  circle  near  which 
the  body  of  Cora  lay.  Obedient  to  the  sign,  the  girls 
raised  the  bier  to  the  elevation  of  their  heads,  and  ad 
vanced  with  slow  and  regulated  steps,  chanting,  as  they 
proceeded,  another  wailing  song  in  praise  of  the  de 
ceased.  Gamut,  who  had  been  a  close  observer  of  rites 
he  deemed  so  heathenish,  now  bent  his  head  over  the 
shoulder  of  the  unconscious  father,  whispering, — 

''  They  move  with  the  remains  of  thy  child ;  shall  we 
not  follow,  and  see  them  interred  with  Christian  burial  ?  " 

Munro  started,  as  if  the  last  trumpet  had  sounded 
in  his  ear,  and  bestowing  one  anxious  and  hurried  glance 
around  him,  he  arose  and  followed  in  the  simple  train, 
with  the  mien  of  a  soldier,  but  bearing  the  full  burden 
of  a  parent's  suffering.  His  friends  pressed  around  him 
with  a  sorrow  that  was  too  strong  to  be  termed  sympa 
thy — even  the  young  Frenchman  joining  in  the  proces 
sion,  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  was  sensibly  touched 
at  the  early  and  melancholy  fate  of  one  so  lovely.  But 
when  the  last  and  humblest  female  of  the  tribe  had 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  517 

joined  in  the  wild,  and  yet  ordered  array,  the  men  of 
the  Lenape  contracted  their  circle,  and  formed  again 
around  the  person  of  Uncas,  as  silent,  as  grave,  and 
as  motionless  as  before. 

The  place  which  had  been  chosen  for  the  grave  of 
Cora  was  a  little  knoll,  where  a  cluster  of  young  and 
healthful  pines  had  taken  root,  forming  of  themselves 
a  melancholy  and  appropriate  shade  over  tne  spot.  On 
reaching  it  the  girls  deposited  their  burden,  and  con 
tinued  for  many  minutes  waiting,  with  characteristic  pa 
tience,  and  native  timidity,  for  some  evidence  that  they 
whose  feelings  were  most  concerned  were  content  with 
the  arrangement.  At  length  the  scout,  who  alone  under 
stood  their  habits,  said,  in  their  own  language, — 

"  My  daughters  have  done  well ;  the  white  men  thank 
them." 

Satisfied  with  this  testimony  in  their  favor,  the  girls 
proceeded  to  deposit  the  body  in  a  shell,  ingeniously,  and 
not  inelegantly,  fabricated  of  the  bark  of  the  birch ;  after 
which  they  lowered  it  into  its  dark  and  final  abode.  The 
ceremony  of  covering  the  remains,  and  concealing  the 
marks  of  the  fresh  earth,  by  leaves  and  other  natural 
and  customary  objects,  was  conducted  with  the  same 
simple  and  silent  forms.  But  when  the  labors  of  the 
kind  beings  who  had  performed  these  sad  and  friendly 
offices  were  so  far  completed,  they  hesitated,  in  a  way 
to  show  that  they  knew  not  how  much  .further  they 
might  proceed.  It  was  in  this  stage  of  the  rites  that 
the  scout  again  addressed  them:— 

"  My  young  women  have  done  enough,"  he  said;  "  the 
spirit  of  a  pale-face  has  no  need  of  food  or  raiment, 
their  gifts  being  according  to  the  heaven  of  their  color. 
I  see,"  he  added,  glancing  an  eye  at  David,  who  was 


5i8  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

preparing  his  book  in  a  manner  that  indicated  an  inten^ 
tion  to  lead  the  way  in  sacred  song,  "  that  one  who  better 
knows  the  Christian  fashions  is  about  to  speak." 

The  females  stood  modestly  aside,  and,  from  having 
been  the  principal  actors  in  the.  scene,  they  now  became 
the  meek  and  attentive  observers  of  that  which  followed. 
During  the  time  David  was  occupied  in  pouring  out  the 
pious  feelings  of  his  spirit  in  this  manner,  not  a  sign" 
of  surprise,  nor  a  look  of  impatience,  escaped  them. 
They  listened  like  those  who  knew  the  meaning  of  the 
strange  words,  and  appeared  as  if  they  felt  the  mingled 
emotions  of  sorrow,  hope,  and  resignation,  they  were 
intended  to  convey. 

Excited  by  the  scene  he  had  just  witnessed,  and  per 
haps  influenced  by  his  own  secret  emotions,  the  master] 
of  song  exceeded  his  usual  efforts.  His  full,  rich  voice 
was  not  found  to  suffer  by  a  comparison  with  the  soft 
tones  of  the  girls ;  and  his  more  modulated  strains  pos-j 
sessed,  at  least  for  the  ears  of  those  to  whom  they  were 
peculiarly  addressed,  the  additional  power  of  intelli 
gence.  He  ended  the  anthem,  as  he  had  commenced  it, 
in  the  midst  of  a  grave  and  solemn  stillness. 

When,  however,  the  closing  cadence  had  fallen  on  the 
ears  of  his  auditors,  the  secret,  timorous  glances  of  the 
eyes,  and  the  general,  and  yet  subdued  movement  of  the 
assemblage,  betrayed  that  something  was  expected  from 
the  father  of  the  deceased.  Munro  seemed  sensible  that 
the  time  was  come  for  him  to  exert  what  is,  perhaps, 
the  greatest  effort  of  which  human  nature  is  capable. 
He  bared  his  gray  locks,  and  looked  around  the  timid 
and  quiet  throng  by  which  he  was  encircled  with  a  firm 
and  collected  countenance.  Then  motioning  with  his 
hand  for  the  scout  to  listen,  he  said, — 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  519 

"  Say  to  these  kind  and  gentle  females,  that  a  heart 
broken  and  failing  man  returns  them  his  thanks.  Tell 
them,  that  the  Being  we  all  worship,  under  different 
names,  will  be  mindful  of  their  charity;  and  that  the 
time  shall  not  be  distant  when  we  may  assemble  around 
His  throne  without  distinction  of  sex,  or  rank,  or  color." 

The  scout  listened  to  the  tremulous  voice  in  which  the 
veteran  delivered  these  words,  and  shook  his  head  slowly 
when  they  were  ended,  as  one  who  doubted  their  efficacy. 

"  To  tell  them  this,"  he  said,  "  would  be  to  tell  them 
that  the  snows  come  not  in  the  winter,  or  that  the  sun 
shines  fiercest  when  the  trees  are  stripped  of  their 
leaves." 

Then  turning  to  the  women,  he  made  such  a  com 
munication  of  the  other's  gratitude  as  he  deemed  most 
suited  to  the  capacities  of  his  listeners.  The  head  of 
Munro  had  already  sunk  upon  his  chest,  and  he  was 
again  fast  relapsing  into  melancholy,  when  the  young 
Frenchman  before  named  ventured  to  touch  him  lightly 
on  the  elbow.  As  soon  as  he  had  gained  the  attention 
of  the  mourning  old  man,  he  pointed  towards  a  group 
of  young  Indians,  who  approached  with  a  light  but 
closely  covered  litter,  and  then  pointed  upward  toward 
the  sun. 

"  I  understand  you,  sir,"  returned  Munro,  with  a  voice 
of  forced  firmness ;  "  I  understand  you.  It  is  the  will  of 
Heaven,  and  I  submit.  Cora,  my  child!  if  the  prayers 
of  a  heartbroken  father  could  avail  thee  now,  how  blessed 
shouldst  thou  be!  Come,  gentlemen,"  he  added,  looking 
about  him  with  an  air  of  lofty  composure,  though  the 
anguish  that  quivered  in  his  faded  countenance  was  far 
too  powerful  to  be  concealed,  "  our  duty  here  is  ended ; 
let  us  depart." 


520  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

Hey  ward  gladly  obeyed  a  summons  that  took  themj 
from  a  spot  where,  each  instant,  he  felt  his  self-control! 
was  about  to  desert  him.  While  his  companions  were 
mounting,  however,  he  found  time  to  press  the  hand  off 
the  scout,  and  to  repeat  the  terms  of  an  engagement  they 
had  made,  to  meet  again  within  the  posts  of  the  British] 
army.  Then  gladly  throwing  himself  into  the  saddle, 
he  spurred  his  charger  to  the  side  of  the  litter,  whence 
low  and  stifled  sobs  alone  announced  the  presence  of 
Alice.  In  this  manner, -the  head  of  Munro  again  drop 
ping  on  his  bosom,  with  Heyward  and  David  following 
in  sorrowing  silence,  and  attended  by  the  aide  of  Mont- 
calm  with  his  guard,  all  the  white  men,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  Hawkeye,  passed  from  before  the  eyes  of  thej 
Delawares,  and  were  soon  buried  in  the  vast  forests  ofi 
that  region. 

But   the   tie   which,   through   their   common   calamity,^ 
had  united  the  feelings  of  these  simple  dwellers  in  the 
woods  with  the  strangers  who  had  thus  transiently  vis-j 
ited  them,  was  not  so  easily  broken.    Years  passed  awayj 
before  the  traditionary   tale  of  the  white  maiden,   and 
of  the  young  warrior  of  the  Mohicans,  ceased  to  beguile 
the  long  nights  and  tedious  marches,  or  to  animate  their 
youthful  and  brave  with  a  desire  for  vengeance.    Neither 
were  the  secondary  actors  in  these  momentous  incidents; 
forgotten.    Through  the  medium  of  the  scout,  who  servedj 
for  years  afterwards  as  a  link  between  them  and  civilized 
life,  they  learned,  in  answer  to  their  inquiries,  that  the 
"  Gray   Head  "   was  speedily  gathered  to  his   fathers — 
borne  down,  as  was  erroneously  believed,  by  his  military 
misfortunes;  and  that  the  "Open  Hand"  had  conveyed 
his  surviving  daughter  far  into  the  settlements  of  the 
"pale-faces,"  where  her  tears  had, at  last  ceased  to  flow, 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  521 

and  had  been  succeeded  by  the  bright  smiles  which  were 
better  suited  to  her  joyous  nature. 

But  these  were  events  of  a  time  later  than  that  which 
concerns  our  tale.  Deserted  by  all  of  his  color,  Hawkeye 
returned  to  the  spot  where  his  own  sympathies  led  him, 
with  a  force  that  no  ideal  bond  of  union  could  bestow. 
He  was  just  in  time  to  catch  a  parting  look  of  the  fea 
tures  of  Uncas,  whom  the  Delawares  were  already  in 
closing  in  his  last  vestments  of  skins.  They  paused  to 
permit  the  longing  and  lingering  gaze  of  the  sturdy 
woodsman,  and  when  it  was  ended,  the  body  was  en 
veloped,  never  to  be  unclosed  again.  Then  came  a  pro 
cession  like  the  other,  and  the  whole  nation  was  col 
lected  about  the  temporary  grave  of  the  chief — tem 
porary,  because  it  was  proper  that,  at  some  future  day, 
his  bones  should  rest  among  those  of  his  own  people. 

The  movement,  like  the  feeling,  had  been  simulta 
neous  and  general.  The  same  grave  expression  of  grief, 
the  same  rigid  silence,  and  the  same  deference  to  the 
principal  mourner,  were  observed  around  the  place  of 
interment  as  have  been  already  described.  The  body  was 
deposited  in  an  attitude  of  repose,  facing  the  rising  sun, 
with  the  implements  of  war  and  of  the  chase  at  hand, 
in  readiness  for  the  final  journey.  An  opening  was  left 
in  the  shell,  by  which  it  was  protected  from  the  soil,  for 
the  spirit  to  communicate  with  its  earthly  tenement, 
when  necessary;  and  the  whole  was  concealed  from  the 
instinct,  and  protected  from  the  ravages  of  the  beasts 
of  prey,  with  an  ingenuity  peculiar  to  the  natives.  The 
manual  rites  then  ceased,  and  all  present  reverted  to 
the  more  spiritual  part  of  the  ceremonies. 

Chingachgook  became  once  more  the  object  of  the 
common  attention.  He  had  not  yet  spoken,  and  some- 


522  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans 

thin'g  consolatory  and  instructive  was  expected  from  so; 
renowned  a  chief  on  an  occasion  of  such  interest.  Con 
scious  of  the  wishes  of  the  people,  the  stern  and  self- 
restrained  warrior  raised  his  face,  which  had  latterly 
been  buried  in  his  robe,  and  looked  about  him  with  a 
steady  eye.  His  firmly  compressed  and  expressive  lips 
then  severed,  and  for  the  first  time  during  the  long  cere 
monies  his  voice  was  distinctly  audible. 

"  Why  do  my  brothers  mourn !  "  he  said,  regarding 
the  dark  race  of  dejected  warriors  by  whom  he  was  en 
vironed  ;  "  why  do  my  daughters  weep !  that  a  young 
man  has  gone  to  the  happy  hunting-grounds ;  that  a  chief 
has  filled  his  time  with  honor !  He  was  good ;.  he  was 
dutiful;  he  was  brave.  Who  can  deny  it?  The  Manikoui 
had  need  of  such  a  warrior,  and  He  has  called  him 
away.  As  for  me,  the  son  and  the  father  of  Uncas,  I  am 
a  blazed  pine,  in  a  clearing  of  the  pale-faces.  My  race 
has  gone  from  the  shores  of  the  salt  lake,  and  the  hills, 
of  the  Dela wares.  But  who  can  say  that  the  Serpent  o£ 
his  tribe  has  forgotten  his  wisdom?  I  am  alone — " 

"  No,  no,"  cried  Hawkeye,  who  had  been  gazing  with 
a  yearning  look  at  the  rigid  features  of  his  friend,  withi 
something  like  his  own  self-command,  but  whose  philoso 
phy  could  endure  no  longer;  "no,  Sagamore,  not  alone., 
The  gifts  of  our  colors  may  be  different,  but  God  has  so; 
placed  us  as  to  journey  in  the  same  path.  I  have  no  kinr 
and  I  may  also  say,  like  you,  no  people.  He  was  your 
son,  and  a  redskin  by  nature;  and  it  may  be  that  your 
blood  was  nearer— but  if  ever  I  forget  the  lad  who  has 
so  often  fou't  at  my  side  in  war,  and  slept  at  my  side 
in  peace,  may  He  who  made  us  all,  whatever  may  be 
our  color  or  our  gifts,  forget  me !  The  boy  has  left  us 
for  a  time;  but,  Sagamore,  you  are  not  alone." 


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  523 

Chingachgook  grasped  the  hand  that,  in  the  warmth 
of  feeling,  the  scout  had  stretched  across  the  fresh  earth, 
and  in  that  attitude  of  friendship  these  two  sturdy  and 
intrepid  woodsmen  bowed  their  heads  together,  while 
scalding  tears  fell  to  their  feet,  watering  the  grave  of 
Uncas  like  drops  of  falling  rain. 

In  the  midst  of  the  awful  stillness  with  which  such 
a  burst  of  feeling,  coming,  as  it  did,  from  the  two  most 
renowned  warriors  of  that  region,  was  received,  Tame- 
nund  lifted  his  voice  to  disperse  the  multitude. 

"  It  is  enough,"  he  said.  "  Go,  children  of  the  Lenape, 
the  anger  of  the  Manitou  is  not  done.  Why  should 
Tamenund  stay?  The  pale-faces  are  masters  of  the 
earth,  and  the  time  of  the  redman  has  not  yet  come 
again.  My  day  has  been  too  long.  In  the  morning  I 
saw  the  sons  of  Unamis  happy  and  strong;  and  yet,  be 
fore  the  night  has  come,  have  I  lived  to  see  the  last 
warrior  of  the  wise  race  of  the  Mohicans." 


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